Sidelining Kannadigas will invite action: DK Shivakumar warns Bengaluru IT Sector
The CM's remarks came a day after a viral video of a young woman alleging language-based discrimination in hiring by Bengaluru's IT companies
Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has warned private companies, particularly Bengaluru's IT sector, against deliberately keeping Kannadigas out of employment opportunities.
On Sunday, Shivakumar posted on X: "In Karnataka, the Kannadiga is sovereign. The government will not allow the rights, dignity, and opportunities of Kannadigas to be disregarded for any reason."
Shivakumar said that the administration has taken serious note of local recruitment complaints. "It is disheartening to hear complaints that Kannadigas are being denied job opportunities in Bengaluru's IT companies," he noted, adding, "If it is found that any private institution has deliberately sidelined Kannadigas, the government will take appropriate action."
Highlighting the city's global tech standing, he said, "The world sees Bengaluru as India's technology capital, and we take immense pride in the talent, skills, and capabilities of our Kannadigas." He added that as "the voice of Kannadiga interests," the government remains committed to responding to their concerns.
Viral video sparks outrage
The government’s warning comes after a video of a young job seeker went viral, alleging widespread language-based discrimination in Bengaluru’s IT sector.
In the video, the woman claimed that candidates who listed Kannada as their mother tongue were systematically eliminated during resume shortlisting or interview stages. She alleged that recruiters instead gave preference to Telugu and Tamil speakers from neighbouring states to hire workers at lower salary packages.
"Campus interviews are not being conducted in Bengaluru colleges," she claimed, appealing directly to the state leadership: "Please provide a solution to this problem."
Kannada activist Rupesh Rajanna shared the clip on social media, alleging that such discriminatory hiring practices have persisted for a long time without adequate state intervention.
Political backlash
The debate over local hiring in Karnataka has been brewing for months. In 2024, the Siddaramaiah-led cabinet cleared a draft bill proposing mandatory job quotas for locals in private-sector roles, though the measure was put on hold following pushback from industry bodies.
The latest controversy has drawn sharp criticism from the Opposition. BJP spokesperson Ashok Gowda questioned the government's long-term employment strategy.
"We are not asking for government jobs per se, but in the private sector, to create new jobs wherein Kannadigas will be encouraged, what kind of actions have been taken?" Gowda asked. "Of course, there can be rules which can be formulated, but to increase jobs, what kind of a role is being played by the government?"