Murthys have misconceptions about Karnataka survey: CM Siddaramaiah

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday said Infosys founder N R Narayana Murthy and author Sudha Murty have ''some misconceptions'' about the ongoing social and educational survey being conducted in the state.

''There is a notion that this is a survey for backward castes,'' Siddaramaiah told reporters here. ''It is not a backward classes survey. Let them write whatever they want. People should understand what this survey is about. What can I do if they are unable to understand?'' he said.

The chief minister’s remarks came after the Murthys declined to take part in the survey, noting on the pro forma that they do not belong to backward communities.

''Should Infosys (founder) mean ‘Brihaspati’ (intelligent)? We have said 20 times it’s not a backward classes survey but a survey for everyone,'' Siddaramaiah said.

He said the government had launched welfare schemes such as Shakti, which offers free bus rides to women in non-luxury government buses, and Gruha Lakshmi, which provides Rs 2,000 a month to women heads of families from economically weaker sections.

''Aren’t upper-caste women and those above the poverty line availing 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, there were still misconceptions about the exercise. ''Now the Centre 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 am making it very, very clear — this is not a survey for backward classes but a socio-economic and educational survey of seven crore people of Karnataka,'' he asserted.

On speculation about a possible leadership change in the state, dubbed ‘November Kranti’, Siddaramaiah said, ''It’s not a Kranti. What is Kranti? Kranti is revolution. Change is not revolution.'' He also said the issue keeps surfacing without reason and should simply be ignored.

Clarifying the cabinet’s recent decision banning activities on government land and in government schools and colleges — widely described as a move against RSS programmes — Siddaramaiah said, ''It’s not just about the RSS. Any organisation conducting activities without government permission is not allowed. This rule was actually brought in by the BJP under Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar.'' On the upcoming Bihar elections, Siddaramaiah expressed confidence that the INDIA bloc would perform well. ''People want change. Rahul Gandhi’s march received an overwhelming response. Chances are high for us to win,'' he said, adding that he would attend the campaign if invited.