Bengaluru, 25 Oct (H.S.):

Karnagaka Chief Minister ,D.K. Shivakumar has warned of action against private companies found deliberately denying employment opportunities to Kannadigas, following allegations of language discrimination in recruitment at some Bengaluru information technology firms.

The controversy emerged after a woman posted a video on social media alleging that candidates identifying Kannada as their mother tongue were being rejected during recruitment. Her claims sparked debate over employment opportunities for local graduates in India’s technology hub.

Responding through a social media post, Shivakumar said the government had taken the allegations seriously. He expressed concern over reports that local candidates were being denied opportunities and said their rights, dignity and employment prospects must be protected.

The government would take appropriate action if any private organisation was found intentionally discriminating against Kannadigas, he said, adding that addressing their concerns remained a priority.

Shivakumar said Bengaluru’s global reputation as a technology centre should also reflect opportunities for Karnataka’s skilled workforce. He expressed pride in the abilities of Kannadiga professionals and maintained that their interests could not be overlooked.

In her video, the woman named a company she identified as Asthenos Technologies Private Limited, alleging that Kannada-speaking applicants did not receive consideration comparable to candidates speaking Tamil or Telugu.

She claimed that mentioning Kannada as a mother tongue on a résumé could lead to rejection at the interview stage. These allegations have not been independently verified, and the supplied account contained no response from the company.

The woman also alleged that some firms recruited candidates from other states through campus interviews at lower salaries while conducting limited recruitment drives in Bengaluru colleges.

She argued that such practices restricted opportunities for local graduates despite their qualifications.

Appealing for government intervention, she urged Shivakumar to examine the recruitment practices and address the difficulties faced by Kannada-speaking jobseekers seeking employment in Bengaluru’s IT sector.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman