Bangalore, April 10. (PTI): After landing in a controversy over his reported remark on the national anthem, Infosys Chief Mentor N R Narayana Murthy today apologised for it as he came under fire in the State Legislature with the Government saying it would call for a report and take appropriate action as per law.

As members cutting across party lines flayed Murthy's remark at the Infosys' Mysore campus after the visit of President A P J Abdul Kalam on Sunday, Home Minister M P Prakash told the Assembly that it was an "unpardonable crime" if Murthy had said so and the Government would call for a report from the police.

"If the media statement has hurt anybody's sentiments, I deeply apologise," Murthy said in a statement here as his remark made after the President's visit that singing the national anthem would have "embarrassed" company employees of foreign origin stirred a hornet's nest.

"We played the instrumental version of the national anthem so that we could all sing along, and all of us did so. We wished to share the pride of being an Indian in the gracious presence of our President. We are informed that this is as per the Protocol," he clarified.

Describing Infosys as a "proud Indian company" with strong universal ethos, accountability and honesty, he said it had always been their endeavour to represent India with the highest standards of respect and enable it to take its rightful place in the world economy.

Responding to the members' anger over Murthy's remarks in the assembly, Prakash said the National Anthem was a National Symbol and the Government had not received any police report but would get one.

Members, who spoke, charged Murthy with having "insulted" the National Anthem and demanded "stern action" against the software industry icon, who also came under attack for lashing out at a 'bandh' organised in the State recently to protest the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal's final award.

On Cauvery, Murthy said the IT industry, including Infosys facilities, had closed on the shutdown day. "We must adopt a solution-based, peaceful approach to resolve the issue," he said.

Opposition Congress leader N Dharam Singh said, it was the duty of every citizen to respect the National Anthem and asked the government to "verify what exactly happened" in the Mysore Infosys campus and take "stern" action accordingly.

Raising the issue, Kannada Chaluvali leader Vatal Nagaraj demanded that an inquiry be held and Murthy "arrested" for "insulting" the National Anthem. "Murthy is anti-Kannada and anti-national," he alleged.

Madhuswamy (JDU) said "nothing can be more insulting" than what Murthy had said and done and asked the Government to withdraw the facilities granted to Infosys. "Infosys has grown because of Bangalore," he said.

Former Deputy Chief Minister and Congress leader Siddaramaiah said Murthy "owed a lot" to Karnataka and claimed if the State had not produced the skilled workers, given the land and concessions to Infosys, "Murthy would not have been what he is today". He said Murthy's remarks on the National Anthem and Cauvery issue were "arrogant."

The issue was raised in the Legislative Council also where members from the Congress, JDS and BJP attacked Murthy's remarks on the National Anthem and Cauvery.