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Mysuru, Oct 17 (IANS) Infosys founder Narayana Murthy and his wife Sudha Murthy have submitted a declaration that they will not provide information for the ongoing controversial socio-economic and educational survey, commonly known as the caste census, saying they do not belong to a backward class, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Friday if Narayana Murthy thinks so. He is wrong. This survey is reserved only for backward classes.
Speaking to the media in Mysuru, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also asked, “In the coming days, the central government will also conduct caste census. Will they (Narayana Murthy and Sudha Murthy) still refuse to cooperate?”
“Maybe they (Narayana Murthy and Sudha Murthy) are showing this non-cooperation because of misinformation. The population of Karnataka is around seven crore and this survey is to assess their economic, educational and social condition,” the Chief Minister said.
“It has to be understood that the caste survey is not just for backward classes. If Infosys people say this, does it mean that they are above everyone else? The state government has already made it clear that this is not a survey just for backward classes.”
“This is a comprehensive survey covering the entire population. Just as the Shakti scheme benefits both the poor and upper castes, similarly this survey also covers all sections of the society,” the Chief Minister said.
“Misinformation has been circulated. The state government has already released advertisements to make people aware and has sent messages through ministers and the chief minister. To assume that this is only a survey of backward classes is wrong,” he said.
Commenting on Infosys founder Narayana Murthy and his wife Sudha Murthy’s withdrawal from the caste survey in Karnataka, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar had said that no one can be forced to provide information for the ongoing caste survey and it is their wish to refuse it.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah patiently participated in the caste survey for 45 minutes in Bengaluru and appealed to the people to participate and provide information without any worry.
Shivakumar said, “We (Karnataka government) cannot force anyone. It is left to their discretion to provide their information in the survey. All I can say is that no one can be forced in this matter.”
Meanwhile, at his Cauvery residence, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah patiently answered for over 45 minutes the enumerators who had come for the Economic, Social and Educational Survey.
The Chief Minister answered all the questions asked by the enumerators and provided complete information.
Siddaramaiah said, “Everyone should participate in this survey without fail and provide their information honestly. Only then will we get accurate data about the real condition of the society, which will help in identifying the economically, socially and educationally backward classes and designing welfare programs for their progress.”
Narayana Murthy and his wife Sudha Murthy have refused to participate in the controversial caste census being conducted by the Congress-led government in Karnataka.
Both of them submitted a self-attested letter to the Karnataka State Backward Classes Commission, the autonomous government body that conducted the survey.
In the official survey form, Narayana Murthy and Sudha Murthy said they were refusing to give details due to personal reasons.
The letter said, “We and our family will not participate in the caste census and we are confirming the same through this letter.”
He also clarified that he does not belong to any backward caste and his participation in the survey will not benefit the state government.
“Therefore, we are not taking part in the caste census conducted by the Karnataka government,” Narayana Murthy said in the letter.
–IANS
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