India, Oct. 16 -- A Karnataka minister had a loaded question for Rajya Sabha member Sudha Murty over her refusal to participate the state government's caste survey.

"As a government, we cannot force anyone to participate in this," Santosh Lad, labour minister in the Congress government, said. The survey is not mandatory.

Then he wondered if she would stick to her position when the BJP-led central government conducts the census, which is scheduled next year and comprises a caste count too. "I hope she can say the same then too," he remarked, as per NDTV.

He was also asked if it makes a difference when influential people like Sudha Murty and her husband and Infosys co-founder Narayan Murthy choose to opt out. "Who is influential or not, ...