When power breeds intolerance

 

There appears to be no control over the tongue of several Karnataka Congress leaders, both in government and outside it. Their recent outbursts over the personal choices of others reveal a disturbing streak of arrogance that comes when power is mistaken for authority. The controversy surrounding the Infosys founders, N. R. Narayana Murthy and Sudha Murthy, over their decision not to participate in the state’s caste survey, has exposed a mindset that is increasingly autocratic and intolerant of dissent.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, his ministerial colleague Priyank Kharge, and senior party leader B. K. Hariprasad have all displayed extraordinary rudeness in their comments. The Chief Minister mocked the Murthys by asking whether they were “Brihaspatis” — know-alls who think they are wiser than others. Kharge questioned whether the couple would dare to behave similarly if the Union government conducted such a survey. Hariprasad went further, calling them traitors — a remark unbecoming of a public figure. These statements were not just unnecessary; they reek of a moral insecurity that cannot tolerate anyone declining to toe the government’s line.

The facts of the matter are simple. The Backward Classes Commission, which is conducting the caste survey, has clearly stated in its notification that participation is optional, not compulsory. The Murthys merely wrote to the Commission, as a matter of courtesy, saying they would exercise this option and not take part. Thousands of others across the state have made the same decision. Yet, only the Murthys have been singled out for political attack — a sign that the government’s resentment is directed not at non-participants in general, but at successful individuals who refuse to be cowed by power.

It is worth remembering that the Murthys have brought immense prestige to Karnataka and India. Through Infosys, they created thousands of jobs, paid thousands of crores in taxes, and built institutions of excellence in education and philanthropy. The least they deserve is respect for their personal choices, not public humiliation.

The Congress party’s reaction betrays an old ideological bias — a suspicion, even hostility, towards entrepreneurs and wealth creators. Instead of engaging with citizens respectfully, it appears determined to brand anyone who disagrees with it as elitist, arrogant, or disloyal. This attitude sends the wrong signal to investors and the business community, who already view Karnataka as an increasingly unfriendly destination for enterprise.

While neighbouring states aggressively court investment, Karnataka’s leadership seems preoccupied with caste arithmetic and populist politics. The obsession with identity politics at the expense of development will only widen the gap between rhetoric and results.

The test of leadership lies in tolerance, not temper. The Congress leadership in Karnataka must remember that governance is not about enforcing conformity but about fostering confidence — in citizens, investors, and the idea of a plural democracy. The Murthys’ quiet dignity in the face of political aggression contrasts sharply with the intemperate language of those who wield power. It is a reminder that true strength lies not in shouting others down, but in knowing when to keep silent.