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In the video, the customer kept asking the bank official to speak in Kannada as she was working in a bank in Karnataka.
The video of the incident is going viral on social media. (Image: X)
In another Hindi Vs Kannada row, a branch manager of an SBI Bank in Bengaluru Rural’s Chandapura was harassed after he refused to speak in Kannada, as a customer kept insisting and reminding her that “this is Karnataka”. The incident attracted widespread criticism on social media, following which Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah condemned the incident and informed that the official has been transferred by the bank.
The video of the incident is going viral on social media. In the video, the customer kept asking the bank official to speak in Kannada as she was working in a bank in Karnataka, however, the bank employee insisted on using Hindi as she lives in India. The argument between the two went on for a few minutes, leading a disagreement.
Customer: Wait a second, this is Karnataka.
Bank Manager: You have not given me employment.
Customer: This is Karnataka, madam.
Bank Manager: So? This is India.
Customer: Kannada first, madam.
Bank Manager: I will not speak Kannada for you.
Customer: So you will never speak in Kannada?
Bank Manager: No. I will speak Hindi.
This sparked outrage on social media with several users claiming that individuals can speak any language they want, while several termed the bank employee rude as she refused to speak in Kannada.
CM Siddaramaiah Condemns SBI Officials’ Behaviour
Taking to X, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah condemned the incident. “The behaviour of the SBI Branch Manager in Surya Nagara, Anekal Taluk, refusing to speak in Kannada & English and showing disregard to citizens, is strongly condemnable. We appreciate SBI’s swift action in transferring the official. The matter may now be treated as closed,” he wrote.
The behaviour of the SBI Branch Manager in Surya Nagara, Anekal Taluk refusing to speak in Kannada & English and showing disregard to citizens, is strongly condemnable.We appreciate SBI’s swift action in transferring the official. The matter may now be treated as closed.…
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) May 21, 2025
“However, such incidents must not recur. All bank employees must treat customers with dignity and make every effort to speak in the local language,” he said. Siddaramaiah further urged the Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Department of Financial Services to mandate cultural and language sensitisation training for all bank staff across India.
“Respecting local language is respecting the people,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also backed Kannada groups protesting over an SBI branch manager refusing to communicate in Kannada. BLP MP Tejasvi Surya stated that banks operating in Karnataka need to serve customers in the local language.
- Location :
Karnataka, India, India
- First Published:
