Despite the CM’s appeal, KRV is starting to look for recruitment data from IT companies nationwide

Activists of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) will visit a private firm in Bengaluru and hand over a letter seeking recruitment details. | Photo credit: TH

Despite Chief Minister DK Shivakumar’s appeal to Kannada organizations not to visit Information Technology and Biotechnology (IT-BT) companies over allegations of discrimination against locals in recruitment, the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) on Monday launched a month-long nationwide campaign to get details from IT-BT companies about job opportunities provided to Kannadigas.

As part of the campaign, the organization led by its state president TA Narayanagowda is visiting IT companies and handing over letters to their heads in Karnataka seeking information.

However, even before the campaign began, Mr. Shivakumar urged Kannada organizations not to visit IT-BT companies directly and said the state government was investigating the matter.

“Such issues must be resolved through dialogue and within the law,” he said.

Dinesh Kumar, a member of KRV, told The Hindu that the organization visited nearly 50 companies on the first day and handed over letters. “We’re not creating any problems. We’re just passing letters and looking for information,” he said.

The organization sought details of the total number of employees in each company and the proportion of Kannadigas among them. It also sought recruitment data for the past three years. The letter sought the number of candidates hired from Karnataka, criteria followed for recruitment and measures taken to provide opportunities to qualified local candidates.

The letters also seek company responses to complaints of discrimination and denial of opportunities raised by Kannada-speaking employees and job seekers.

Mr. Gowda said the campaign was not targeted at any particular company but was aimed at verifying complaints of discrimination and finding solutions. Companies operating in Karnataka, benefiting from its infrastructure, resources and government policies, should also respond responsibly to the job aspirations of the local people, he said.

KRV said the information and complaints collected during the campaign will be reviewed and further action will be brought to the attention of the concerned companies and the state government.

Published – 02 Nov 2026 21:03 IST