CM Siddaramaiah says Sudha Murty, man has misconceptions about Karnataka survey - 'Centre is doing one too'

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday said Infosys founder NR Narayana Murthy and author Sudha Murty have “some misconceptions” about the ongoing social and educational survey being conducted in the state. “There is a perception that this is a survey for backward castes,” Siddaramaiah told reporters on Friday. “This is not a backward class survey. Let them write what they want. People need to understand what this survey is about. What can I do if they can’t understand?” he said. The chief minister’s comments came after the Murthys refused to participate in the survey, noting on the pro forma that they did not belong to backward communities. Sudha Murty, who is also a Rajya Sabha member, reportedly wrote a statement on the survey form stating that the survey has no relevance or utility to the government in their case. The couple also submitted a self-declaration letter opting out of the process. “Should Infosys (founder) mean ‘Brihaspati’ (intelligent)? We have said 20 times this is not a backward classes survey but a survey for all,” Siddaramaiah said. What else did Siddaramaja say? The Karnataka CM stated that the government has launched welfare schemes including Shakti, which provides free bus rides to women in non-luxury government buses, and Gruha Lakshmi, which provides ₹2,000 per month to women heads of families from economically weaker sections. “Aren’t upper caste women and those above the poverty line using the Shakti scheme? Aren’t upper caste people among the Gruha Lakshmi beneficiaries?” he asked. The chief minister said that despite repeated clarifications from ministers, misconceptions about the exercise persisted. “Now the Center is also coming up with a caste census. What answer will they (Murthys) give then? I feel they have the wrong information,” he said. “I make it very, very clear – this is not a survey for backward classes, but a socio-economic and educational survey of seven million people of Karnataka,” he asserted. How did DK Shivakumar react? On Thursday, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar also reacted to Murthy’s decision. “We are not forcing anyone to participate in the survey. It is on a voluntary basis,” he said. It is not a survey for backward classes but a socio-economic and educational survey of seven million people of Karnataka. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah-led Karnataka Cabinet approved a fresh survey on June 12, effectively nullifying the 2015 exercise, citing Section 11(1) of the Karnataka State Backward Classes Commission, 1995, which requires a review of the state’s backward class list once every 10 years. (With agency input)