Taking strong note of complaints that Kannadigas are being denied job opportunities in Bengaluru's IT sector, Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has warned that the state government will take appropriate action against private institutions found to have deliberately sidelined local candidates.
In a post on X, Shivakumar said the government had taken the complaints seriously and would not allow the rights, dignity and employment opportunities of local residents to be disregarded.
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“ In Karnataka, the Kannadiga is sovereign,” he said, asserting that the government remained committed to protecting the interests of the state's native population.
ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿನ ಐಟಿ ಕಂಪನಿಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಕನ್ನಡಿಗರಿಗೆ ಉದ್ಯೋಗಾವಕಾಶಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಅನ್ಯಾಯವಾಗುತ್ತಿದೆ ಎಂಬ ದೂರುಗಳು ಕೇಳಿಬರುತ್ತಿರುವುದು ವಿಷಾದನೀಯ. ಕನ್ನಡ ಮಾತೃಭಾಷೆ ಇರುವವರನ್ನು ಕಡೆಗಣಿಸಲಾಗುತ್ತಿದೆ ಎಂಬ ವಿಷಯವನ್ನು ಸರ್ಕಾರ ಗಂಭೀರವಾಗಿ ಪರಿಗಣಿಸಿದೆ. ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದಲ್ಲಿ ಕನ್ನಡಿಗನೇ ಸಾರ್ವಭೌಮ. ಕನ್ನಡಿಗರ ಹಕ್ಕು, ಗೌರವ ಮತ್ತು ಅವಕಾಶಗಳನ್ನು ಯಾವುದೇ ಕಾರಣಕ್ಕೂ ಕಡೆಗಣಿಸಲು ಸರ್ಕಾರ ಅವಕಾಶ ನೀಡುವುದಿಲ್ಲ. ಜಗತ್ತು ಬೆಂಗಳೂರನ್ನು ಭಾರತದ ತಂತ್ರಜ್ಞಾನ ರಾಜಧಾನಿಯಾಗಿ ನೋಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದು, ನಮ್ಮ ಕನ್ನಡಿಗರ ಪ್ರತಿಭೆ, ಕೌಶಲ್ಯ ಮತ್ತು ಸಾಮರ್ಥ್ಯದ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ನಮಗೆ ಅಪಾರ ಹೆಮ್ಮೆಯಿದೆ. ಕನ್ನಡಿಗರನ್ನು ಯಾವುದೇ ಖಾಸಗಿ ಸಂಸ್ಥೆ ಉದ್ದೇಶಪೂರ್ವಕವಾಗಿ ಕಡೆಗಣಿಸಿರುವುದು ಕಂಡುಬಂದರೆ, ಸರ್ಕಾರ ಸೂಕ್ತ ಕ್ರಮ ಕೈಗೊಳ್ಳಲಿದೆ. ಕನ್ನಡಿಗರ ಹಿತಾಸಕ್ತಿಗೆ ಧ್ವನಿಯಾಗಿ, ಅವರ ಸಮಸ್ಯೆಗಳಿಗೆ ಸ್ಪಂದಿಸಲು ಸರ್ಕಾರ ಸದಾ ಬದ್ಧವಾಗಿದೆ.
— DK Shivakumar (@DKShivakumar) October 25, 2026
Shivakumar underscored Bengaluru's standing as a global technology hub, arguing that its success rests in part on the talent and technical expertise of Karnataka's own workforce.
He said, “If it is found that any private institution has deliberately sidelined Kannadigas, the government will take appropriate action. As the voice of Kannadiga interests, the government is always committed to responding to their concerns,”
The Chief Minister, however, did not identify any IT company accused of discriminatory hiring practices, provide evidence to substantiate the complaints or outline the specific measures the government could take against establishments found violating applicable rules.
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The remarks come against the backdrop of a longstanding debate in Karnataka over access to jobs for local residents, particularly in Bengaluru, a major hub for Indian and global technology firms.
The demand for greater representation of Kannadigas in private-sector jobs has repeatedly surfaced in Karnataka's political debate, highlighting the challenge of reconciling local employment expectations with companies' recruitment policies and business needs.
Any government intervention would also depend on the applicable legal framework and the nature of the alleged violations.
Shivakumar's remarks signal the government's willingness to address concerns over local employment, although the post does not establish that any company has been found guilty of discrimination.
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