Karnataka chief minister warns IT firms against sidelining local Kannadiga workers

Karnataka chief minister DK Shivakumar warned that the state will take action against any private IT company that purposefully denies job opportunities to Kannadiga candidates in Bengaluru. He said the government has taken recent complaints seriously and will not allow the rights and dignity of local Kannada speakers to be ignored. The remarks come amid a long-standing debate over giving preference to locals in private-sector employment, highlighted by a previously proposed bill that sought 70% reservation for non-management roles and 50% for management positions.

That legislation was temporarily suspended after industry and political backlash, with former chief minister Siddaramaiah clarifying the pause. Shivakumar reiterated pride in Karnataka's talent pool and the importance of Bengaluru as India's technology capital.