Pro-Kannada activists reach Google office; industry veterans fear move could hurt Bengaluru’s image

Pro-Kannada activists continued visiting multinational companies (MNCs) in Bengaluru on November 4, seeking information on employment opportunities for Kannadigas, despite CM DK Shivakumar’s appeal to Kannada organisations not to approach IT companies or disrupt their operations.

The latest visit was to Google’s office (Ananta, Rio Business Park, Mahadevapura) in Bengaluru, where activists submitted their recommendations as part of a campaign to assess the representation of Kannadigas in IT and manufacturing companies.

Also, read: Jobs for locals: Pro-Kannada activists visit Bengaluru IT firms to collect employment data despite CM's call to stay away

The developments have raised concerns among industry veterans, who fear that such confrontational tactics could damage Bengaluru's reputation as a global technology hub at a time when the sector is already dealing with challenges from artificial intelligence (AI), increasing competition from other states and city's infrastructure constraints.

The controversy has also escalated following businessman and former Infosys CFO TV Mohandas Pai’s criticism of the visits by pro-Kannada groups.

Quoting a Moneycontrol report on the activists' campaign, Pai wrote on X: "For our @CMofKarnataka, we cannot have vigilante groups running the state when we have @DKShivakumar as our CM. This must stop."

The remarks triggered a sharp response from Karnataka Rakshana Vedike president TA Narayana Gowda, who likened Pai to Shakuni, a character from the Mahabharata. "This Mohandas Pai is like Shakuni from the Mahabharata. He is playing that role in Karnataka. Despite claiming to be a Kannadiga, he is hatching a plot to destroy Kannadigas," Narayana Gowda said.

He called on pro-Kannada workers to stage a protest outside Pai’s residence and said he had formed a team to locate his house. "Either he must say that he will not interfere in issues related to Kannadigas or leave Karnataka," he said.

Meanwhile, Shivakumar on November 4 reiterated that nobody should take the law into their own hands or create trouble, including members of Rakshana Vedike. "Regarding employment opportunities for Kannada-speaking youth, I am also giving clear directions to the managements. Nobody should take the law into their own hands or create trouble, including members of the Rakshana Vedike. I request everyone to cooperate and act responsibly. That is the purpose of this meeting," he said.

The CM has said government would hold discussions with IT companies and industry representatives to ensure employment opportunities for qualified Kannadigas.

However, industry representatives believe that allowing activist groups to approach companies directly could create an atmosphere of uncertainty. "This is like a parallel government. The IT sector itself is facing a crisis due to the impact of AI, and competition from other states is increasing. Our infrastructure is already in a mess, and now we have this kind of environment. Recruitment matters should be left to companies. This will create a wrong impression about Bengaluru," a senior industry veteran, who did not wish to be named, told Moneycontrol.

Another industry representative said government's inability to contain such incidents could hurt Brand Bengaluru. "Brand Bengaluru has taken a big hit, especially when states such as Andhra Pradesh are competing aggressively to attract investments. Being a cosmopolitan city has always been one of Bengaluru's biggest advantages, and now that image is being affected," the person said.

Serial entrepreneur Ramesh Govindan, popularly known as Tiger Ramesh, also expressed concern over the developments, recalling how the Karnataka government had intervened to retain businesses in the state in the past.

In a post on X, he recalled that in 1999, when he was running a large technology business in Bengaluru, then Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu had invited him to shift the venture to Hyderabad.

Govindan said the then Karnataka CM SM Krishna subsequently sent the chief secretary and IT secretary to meet him and discuss ways to ensure that the business remained in Karnataka.

"I don't understand why the present government is permitting such intimidation. The private sector runs on merit across the country and not just in Karnataka. The Karnataka government should put an end to such direct intimidation tactics," he wrote.

Kannada Rakshana Vedike launched a month-long statewide campaign from November 1 to assess the representation of Kannadigas in IT-BT and manufacturing companies. The organisation has sought details of workforce composition, recruitment over the past three years, hiring criteria, internships and skill-development initiatives.

The campaign follows allegations of discrimination against Kannada-speaking candidates during recruitment drives.

The controversy has also revived the debate over Karnataka State Employment of Local Candidates in Industries, Factories and Other Establishments Bill, 2024, which proposed reservation for locals in private-sector jobs but was put on hold following objections from industry representatives.