Language row: SBI manager's 'won't speak Kannada' remark sparks outrage, CM Siddaramaiah reacts

Despite the customer citing Reserve Bank of India (RBI) regulations — which requires bank staff to communicate in the regional language — the manager can be heard repeatedly declining to do so.

An all-out public altercation between a SBI bank official and a customer in Karnataka has reignited the ongoing language row in the state. The incident quickly became viral eliciting a response form Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah and a prompt action from the SBI branch.

An SBI bank manager in Anekal Taluk, on Bengaluru’s outskirts, refused to speak in Kannada. When a customer kept insisting and reminded her that “this is Karnataka,” it led to a heated exchange.

In the clip, the man filming says, “This is Karnataka, ma’am,” to which the woman responds, “This is India.” She goes on to say, “I will not speak Kannada first,” and adds that her mother tongue is Hindi. The incident has caused massive outrage on social media, with Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah saying that the SBI Branch Manager has been transferred. According to initial reports, the employee was transferred immediately after the incident.

Despite the customer citing Reserve Bank of India (RBI) regulations — which requires bank staff to communicate in the regional language — the manager can be heard repeatedly declining to do so.

Following the incident, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah condemned the actions of the SBI employee. It has also been learned that the employee was transferred.

“The behaviour of the SBI Branch Manager in Surya Nagara, Anekal Taluk, refusing to speak in Kannada and English, showing disregard to citizens, is strongly condemnable,” wrote Siddaramaiah in his post on X with a hastag “Kannada First” on Tuesday. After the video of the incident went viral.

Bengaluru South MP Tejaswi Surya posted that the behaviour by the SBI Branch Manager is simply not acceptable. If you are doing customer interface work in Karnataka, especially in a sector like banking , it is important to communicate to customers in the language they know. Being adamant like this is simply not right.