BENGALURU, May 22 – A branch manager at the State Bank of India (SBI) has been transferred after refusing to speak Kannada with a customer, sparking public outrage and prompting an apology video amid rising linguistic tensions in Karnataka. The incident follows a similar backlash involving Bollywood singer Sonu Nigam over remarks perceived as disparaging towards Kannada language speakers.
The controversy erupted after a video went viral showing the manager at SBI’s Surya Nagara branch in Anekal Taluk, Bengaluru, asserting that she would only speak Hindi, telling a customer, “I will never speak Kannada.” When reminded that she was working in Karnataka, the manager responded, “So? This is India.”
In response, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah condemned the incident and announced the official’s transfer. “The behaviour of the SBI Branch Manager is strongly condemnable,” Siddaramaiah posted on social media platform X, calling for mandatory “language sensitisation training” for all bank staff nationwide.
The manager later issued an apology in broken Kannada, with assistance from colleagues, saying, “If I have hurt anyone, I sincerely apologise. I will try to conduct my business in Kannada going forward.”
The incident underscores ongoing tensions over linguistic identity in Karnataka, where pro-Kannada groups have been vocal about the preservation of regional language rights.
Meanwhile, popular singer Sonu Nigam also drew criticism after he refused to perform a song in Kannada during a concert and linked the audience’s demand to the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir.
“It is because of such behaviour that incidents like Pahalgam happen,” Nigam said in the viral video, prompting swift backlash.
An FIR was filed against Nigam by the pro-Kannada organisation Karnataka Rakshana Vedike under sections related to incitement and intentional insult. Bengaluru Rural Deputy Superintendent of Police C.K. Baba confirmed that the singer’s comments had hurt public sentiment.
In a post on Instagram, the 51-year-old singer later apologised, writing: “Sorry, Karnataka. My love for you is bigger than my ego. Love you always.”
Karnataka has long resisted the imposition of Hindi, with political and civil society groups emphasising the importance of Kannada in official and public domains.
The twin incidents have reignited debates around linguistic federalism, cultural respect, and the role of public figures and institutions in navigating India’s diverse language landscape.
