A major controversy erupted in Karnataka after a video featuring a State Bank of India (SBI) branch manager in Anekal taluk refusing to speak in Kannada went viral across social media platforms. The incident, which took place at the Surya Nagar branch, drew sharp backlash from pro-Kannada groups, common citizens, and top political leaders. The matter took a serious turn after Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah strongly condemned the manager’s behaviour and welcomed the decision by SBI to transfer the official.

The video, which has now been widely circulated, shows the female SBI manager engaging in a heated exchange with a customer, where she openly states, “I will not speak in Kannada for sure… but Hindi.” The customer can be heard citing RBI guidelines encouraging the use of regional languages in customer interactions, but the manager refuses to comply, triggering major public outrage.

CM Siddaramaiah's Firm Response

Taking to social media platform ‘X’ (formerly Twitter), Chief Minister Siddaramaiah called the manager’s actions “strongly condemnable.” He praised SBI’s swift action in transferring the employee but emphasized that this should serve as a warning to all banks operating in Karnataka.

He further added, “All bank employees must treat customers with dignity and make every effort to speak the local language. I urge @FinMinIndia and the Department of Financial Services to mandate cultural and language sensitisation training for all bank staff across India. Respecting the local language is respecting the people.”

He ended the post with the hashtag #KannadaFirst, a slogan widely used in Karnataka to promote the use of Kannada in administrative and public service settings.

Pro-Kannada Groups React

Pro-Kannada organisations were quick to respond, demanding not only an official apology from SBI but also disciplinary action against the branch manager. These groups claimed that the insistence on Hindi over Kannada was an insult to the state’s linguistic identity and went against RBI norms that support communication in the local language for better customer service.

This sentiment is not isolated, as there has been a long-standing demand in Karnataka for the promotion and prioritization of Kannada in government services, banking, education, and public infrastructure. This incident only reignited these ongoing demands.

Tejasvi Surya’s Intervention

BJP MP from Bengaluru South, Tejasvi Surya, also expressed strong displeasure over the matter. He labelled the manager’s conduct as “simply not acceptable.”

Surya mentioned that he had previously raised this issue in a Public Accounts Committee meeting with the Department of Financial Services (DFS), where he was assured that measures would be taken to enforce the use of local languages in banks.

He added, “It looks like this still isn’t being properly enforced. I urge the concerned authorities at @TheOfficialSBI to immediately implement the DFS policy that mandates local language requirements. I have spoken to relevant officials to take action against the manager who behaved in this manner.”

The Larger Issue: Language and Public Services in India

This episode has once again brought into focus the ongoing debate around language policy in India, especially in southern states like Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala, where there is often resistance to the imposition of Hindi in official and customer service interactions.

Karnataka, with its rich linguistic heritage, has always emphasised the importance of Kannada in daily and official communication. The state government has over the years issued multiple notifications asking private and public sector undertakings to prioritise Kannada in their dealings with customers.

SBI, being one of the largest public sector banks, is expected to follow guidelines issued by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) that state that customers must be attended to in regional languages, especially in regions where a majority of the population speaks the local language.

RBI Guidelines and SBI’s Responsibilities

According to RBI’s directives, banks are expected to:

• Provide transaction services in regional languages

• Use local language scripts on ATMs and bank forms

• Ensure staff are trained to communicate in regional languages

The incident at the Surya Nagar SBI branch appears to be a clear violation of these guidelines. Failure to follow such protocols not only leads to customer dissatisfaction but also raises questions about inclusivity and respect for linguistic diversity.

What Happens Next?

With CM Siddaramaiah calling for nationwide sensitisation programmes, and Tejasvi Surya demanding strict policy enforcement, it is likely that banks and financial institutions across Karnataka—and perhaps in other states—will face increased scrutiny over language compliance.

This could result in:

• Mandatory Kannada training for non-Kannada-speaking bank staff

• Department of Financial Services (DFS) issuing updated compliance guidelines

• Regular audits to ensure language guidelines are being followed

• Penalties or transfers for staff failing to adhere to local language norms

Public Sentiment and the Way Forward

The overwhelming public response to the viral video indicates a growing frustration among Kannada-speaking citizens regarding the perceived neglect of their language in public services. While English and Hindi are widely used in India, the Constitution recognises 22 official languages, and public service delivery is expected to respect this linguistic plurality.

This incident may set a precedent, encouraging other states to enforce stricter local language policies in public-facing services, including banks, telecom providers, transport services, and government offices.

Conclusion

The transfer of the SBI branch manager in Karnataka following a viral video refusing to speak Kannada highlights the urgent need for linguistic sensitivity in public service roles. With top leaders like CM Siddaramaiah and MP Tejasvi Surya stepping in, the matter has gained national attention. It also reopens discussions about linguistic respect, inclusivity, and the implementation of RBI’s guidelines on local language use in banking.

As Karnataka moves forward with its #KannadaFirst initiative, institutions like SBI must ensure that language barriers do not hinder customer service and that respect for regional identity remains a top priority. Whether this incident will lead to tangible policy changes or simply become another footnote in the broader language debate remains to be seen—but it has undeniably struck a chord across the state and beyond.

The Upcoming IPOs in this week and coming weeks are Aegis Vopak Terminals, Schloss Bangalore, Astonea Labs, Nikita Papers, Prostarm Info Systems, Victory Electric Vehicles International, Blue Water Logistics, Unified Data - Tech Solutions, Wagons Learning.

The Current active IPO are Dar Credit and Capital, Belrise Industries, Borana Weaves.

Start your Stock Market Journey and Apply in IPO by Opening Free Demat Account in Choice Broking FinX.

Join our Trading with CA Abhay Telegram Channel for regular Stock Market Trading and Investment Calls by CA Abhay Varn - SEBI Registered Research Analyst.