Karnataka backtracks on making MNCs display number of Kannadiga employees, no such law in place yet, says Priyank Kharge

Amid dissent from prominent industry voices, the Karnataka government has backpeddaled from its recent stance of asking multinationals to openly disclose the number of Kannadigas they employ. IT minister Priyank Kharge clarified that there was no such Act as of now. The government, he said, ultimately wanted to ensure that more investments came to Karnataka.

“When the issue of 60% of Kannada should be used on billboards or name boards came up, other suggestions came up from the members of the Council and the Assembly…It will be discussed,” he said. The committee to create the proper framework which would decide the inclusions and exclusions for this rule was already in place, he added.

The suggestion, he said, had come from members of the legislature. “If more job opportunities are created for Kannadigas, more economic prosperity happens for Karnataka,” he added. Kannada and culture minister Shivaraj S Tangadagi announced in the state legislative council on Tuesday that MNCs must display the number of Kannadigas employed on notice boards on their campuses. Failure to do so, he added, might lead them to lose licenses.

The statement led to backlash from the industry, with prominent leaders like former Infosys board member TV Mohandas Pai calling out the government for leaving companies open to the risk of vandalism in the name of linguistic pride.

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