Congress MP Karti Chidambaram counters Narayana Murthy's 70-hour workweek idea: 'Working longer is...'

Congress MP Karti Chidambaram has criticised Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy over his call for a 70-hour workweek. Speaking last month, Murthy highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s reported 100-hour workweeks as an example, urging Indians to work harder to contribute to the country’s development. The 78-year-old tech tycoon shared his own rigorous schedule, revealing he worked 14-hour days, six and a half days a week during much of his career.

“I'm proud of it,” Murthy said, adding that young Indians must prioritise hard work to help the country overcome poverty and compete globally.

However, Chidambaram pushed back, calling such long working hours “meaningless.” In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he argued that improving efficiency, not extending hours, is key. “Daily life is already a struggle due to poor infrastructure and amenities. Work-life balance is essential for social harmony,” he wrote, suggesting India should adopt a four-day workweek instead.

Chidambaram’s comments echoed those of his Congress colleague Gaurav Gogoi, who recently emphasised the importance of balancing work with family responsibilities. Gogoi argued that men, too, must prioritise caregiving and household duties in the modern world.

Murthy, meanwhile, defended his stance, stating that India needs to set high aspirations to address poverty and improve global competitiveness. He pointed out that 800 million Indians depend on free ration and cited the productivity gap between Indian and Chinese workers.