'Andhra ready to welcome you': Nara Lokesh to Nasscom amid backlash over Karnataka quota decision

Nara Lokesh

Andhra Pradesh minister Nara Lokesh on Wednesday welcomed IT firms to "relocate their businesses" to his state amid a massive backlash over Karnataka government's decision to reserve jobs for locals.

In a post on X, Lokesh, who is the state IT minister, told the National Association of Software and Service Companies (Nasscom) that he understands their disappointment over the decision and assured them of best-in-class facilities if they would move their businesses to Andhra Pradesh.

His outreach came after Nasscom demanded the scrapping of a Karnataka bill that aims to reserve jobs for locals in the private sector, saying it would force businesses to relocate.

"Dear @NASSCOM members, we understand your disappointment. We welcome you to expand or relocate your businesses to our IT, IT services, AI and data center cluster at Vizag," he said on X.

"We will offer you best-in-class facilities, uninterrupted power, infrastructure and the most suitable skilled talent for your IT enterprise with no restrictions from the Government," the TDP MLA added.

Earlier today, Nasscom said it was disappointed and deeply concerned about the Karnataka State Government Employment of Local Candidates in Industries Bill, 2024, cleared by the state cabinet two days earlier.

"Its deeply disturbing to see this kind of bill which will not only hamper the growth of the industry, impact jobs and the global brand for the state. Nasscom members are seriously concerned about the provisions of this bill and urge the state government to withdraw the bill," the industry body said in a statement.

"Nasscom is seeking an urgent meeting for industry representatives with state authorities to discuss the concerns and prevent the state's progress from being derailed," it added.

The Karnataka state government, earlier in the day, approved a bill proposing 100% reservation for Kannadigas, or local residents, in C and D grade positions within private industries. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced this decision through a social media post. However, following strong opposition from IT firms, he removed the announcement from his social media.