Karnataka Chief Minister warned private companies

Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Sunday warned private companies that the state government would act against them if they were found to have deliberately kept Kannadigas out of jobs, declaring that “in Karnataka, the Kannadiga is sovereign”. The remarks came a day after a video of a young woman alleging language-based discrimination in hiring by Bengaluru’s IT companies went viral on social media.

Shivakumar said in a post on X, “If it is found that any private institution has deliberately sidelined Kannadigas, the government will take appropriate action.” He added, “In Karnataka, the Kannadiga is sovereign. The government will not allow the rights, dignity, and opportunities of Kannadigas to be disregarded for any reason.” (UPDATED ON 25TH OCTOBER 2026)