Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has fired a sharp rebuke at Infosys founders Narayana Murthy and Sudha Murty after they declined to participate in the state’s Social & Educational Survey. He stressed again that the survey is for all citizens, not just backward classes, and questioned whether being from “Infosys” implies knowing everything.

According to Siddaramaiah, despite repeated explanations, the Murthys seem to hold a misperception that it’s only a backward-class exercise. He asked rhetorically: “Just because they are Infosys, do they know it all?”.

When survey enumerators visited their home, the couple reportedly declined the process and submitted a form stating they “don’t want the survey performed at our residence.” Sudha Murty also reportedly wrote she did not belong to any backward community.

Defending the survey’s legitimacy, Siddaramaiah underscored that it’s intended to map inequality and guide policies—ranging from welfare to education—across all sections of society. He argued that refusal by prominent public figures undermines the collective push for data-driven social justice.

Meanwhile, Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar has affirmed that participation is voluntary, recognizing the personal right to opt out.