Zoho co-founder and former CEO Sridhar Vembu issued a detailed clarification after facing criticism on social media over his public support for former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan following the latter's resignation.Several users alleged that Vembu's comments were motivated by Zoho's business interests and its relationship with the central government.Rejecting those allegations, Vembu said his opinions are independent and not influenced by political considerations or commercial interests.

He stated that nearly 90% of Zoho's revenue comes from international markets where the company competes globally, while only around 2% is generated through government contracts.

He added that whenever Zoho works with government agencies, it aims to deliver value for taxpayers' money and emphasised that the company is also a significant taxpayer.Vembu further said he has never sought favours from any government and never intends to do so.According to him, he offers advice when requested, irrespective of the political party in power.

To support this point, he cited his interactions with the Kerala Startup Mission under the Left Front government, where he encouraged the development of Kerala as a research and development hub and said Zoho subsequently invested in several R&D-driven startups in the state.

He also praised initiatives undertaken by the Tamil Nadu government, saying his support is based on the state's progress rather than political ideology.

Concluding his statement, Vembu reaffirmed that he loves the country, will continue to express his views freely, and will not be deterred by criticism or threats.

The remarks came after his earlier post praising Dharmendra Pradhan's contribution to education and expressing sadness over his resignation sparked widespread debate online.