SBI Employee Refuses to Speak Kannada, Faces Backlash
Kannada Row Erupts in Karnataka SBI Branch
A State Bank of India (SBI) employee in Karnataka has sparked a major controversy after refusing to speak Kannada, the state’s official language, with a customer. The incident, which was captured in a viral video, has ignited a debate about language and respect in public service.
The Viral Video
The video shows a woman officer at the Surya Nagar branch in Anekal Taluk repeatedly declining to speak Kannada despite repeated requests from a customer. When asked why she wasn’t speaking Kannada, the officer famously stated, ‘This is India,’ and insisted on speaking Hindi. The video quickly spread on social media, drawing strong criticism from users who accused the staffer of imposing Hindi and disrespecting Kannada.
SBI Response and Apology
Facing intense backlash, the SBI employee later issued an apology in Kannada, with the help of a colleague. She expressed regret for any hurt caused and pledged to conduct business in Kannada going forward.
CM Siddaramaiah Condemns the Incident
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah strongly condemned the officer’s behavior, calling it ‘strongly condemnable.’ He acknowledged the SBI’s decision to transfer the employee but urged the Finance Ministry to take further action to prevent similar incidents.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the CM stated, ‘Respecting local language is respecting the people.’ He called for mandatory cultural and language sensitization training for all bank staff across India.
