Shivakumar Warns Bengaluru IT Firms Against Sidelining Kannadigas

Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar warned private institutions and information technology companies in Bengaluru on October 25, 2026, that the state government will take action if they are found deliberately sidelining Kannadigas in job recruitment. The warning follows a viral video and social media complaints from a Bengaluru woman alleging that some firms reject applicants who list Kannada as their mother tongue, favor candidates from other states, and recruit workers at lower salaries.

Additional complaints cited job advertisements requiring proficiency in Tamil and Telugu but not Kannada, as well as limited campus recruitment at local colleges. Shivakumar described these reports as "disheartening" and asserted that the government would not allow the rights and dignity of local residents to be disregarded, stating that the "Kannadiga is sovereign" in Karnataka.

While the Chief Minister threatened appropriate action, he did not identify specific companies, provide evidence, or outline a formal inquiry process. This development occurs amid a longstanding debate over local employment quotas. In July 2024, the government put a proposed bill on hold after industry backlash; that bill had sought to reserve up to 70% of non-management positions for local residents.