Former Infosys CFO Mohandas Pai on Wednesday slammed the Karnataka cabinet bill on reservation for locals, saying companies would move out of the state and investments would stop.
“The government must focus on skilled training of locals instead of this. I call all the companies to protest against this,” Pai told CNN-News 18.
The former Infosys CFO was referring to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s statement that the state cabinet has approved a bill to give 100 per cent reservation to Kannadigas in private industries. The quota will be for C and D grade posts in these firms, he said.
The chief minister further said the Congress-led government in the state was pro-Kannada and was doing this to give more jobs and opportunities to Kannadigas. “The Cabinet meeting approved a bill to make it mandatory to hire 100 per cent Kannadigas for “C and D” grade posts in all private industries in the state. It is our government’s wish that the Kannadigas should avoid being deprived of jobs in the land of Kannada and should be given an opportunity to build a comfortable life in the motherland. We are a pro-Kannada government. Our priority is to look after the welfare of Kannadigas,” he said in a post on X.
Calling the move “completely draconian and unconstitutional”, Pai said: “It must be taken back, they are trying to destroy economy and jobs. They should say for one to be identified as local under this reservation, they should need to read, write Kannada and it will be certified by somebody. Now if you have been in Bengaluru for 45 years and you have not studied Kannada, then you have to go learn Kannada and pass a test.”
Pai, while noting that Bengaluru has got the “best talent”, said: “That’s why all companies come and invest in Bengaluru. Do you think they will like a government nominee sitting in recruitment? It will destroy and stop all investments. How can a government interfere in this?”
He added: “They must focus on skilled training of locals and not this. I call for all companies to oppose and protest against this. The court will also strike this down. This must be completely scrapped and there is no discrimination against locals in Karnataka.”
According to sources in the law department, the ‘Karnataka State Employment of Local Candidates in the Industries, Factories and Other Establishments Bill, 2024’ will be tabled on Thursday (July 18) in the assembly.
Apart from Pai, Biocon executive chairperson Kiran Mazumdar Shaw also expressed caution, saying the move must not affect the state’s leading position in technology. “As a tech hub we need skilled talent and whilst the aim is to provide jobs for locals we must not affect our leading position in technology by this move. There must be caveats that exempt highly skilled recruitment from this policy. @siddaramaiah @DKShivakumar @PriyankKharge” she said in a post on X.
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