A woman in Bengaluru has triggered an outrage on social media after claiming that if North Indians do leave the city, as many pro-Kannada groups keep insisting, then the entire city would become drained out of people and money. Sugandh Sharma, a digital creator on Instagram who goes by the handle @thesugandhsharma and has more than 17,000 followers, created a series of reels on why Bengaluru would be at a loss without the migrant population from the north but one among them is viral, attracting widespread criticism of Sharma. Several people in the comments insisted the city would survive, if not thrive, without her and demanded that she leave.
"You guys keep saying: 'you northies go back,' if we all really leave Bengaluru, your city would become empty," Sharma said in the reel. "First, your PGs (paying guest accommodations) would become vacant, you won't get the money you are earning now, all the clubs in Koramangla would become empty. All the pretty girls you see dancing to Punjabi music in these clubs won't be seen anymore. You guys should think before you talk. In case your wish does come true, Bengaluru would lose all its glamour."
Shared three days ago, the reel already has close to 11,000 comments.
Reacting to the video, enraged Instagram users asked Sharma to leave the city and stop spreading hate.
"If you can actually leave, just as an experiment, and see how Bangalore becomes empty, we are ready to live with that emptiness and dancersless pubs. We can live with it. Really. Forget all other North Indians. You leave ma’am, enough for now!" commented actor Chaithra J Achar.
A "Kannadiga and proud Bangalorean" entrepreneur and influencer Yudister Narayan said, "We’ve never had any significant issues with our North Indian friends in reality. It feels like some influencers and pages have a personal agenda, pushing aggression towards Bangalore by constantly posting ‘North India vs Bangalore’ content and spreading unnecessary hatred. Yes, there may be some incidents, but that doesn’t represent everyone. We all coexist here, and we embrace diversity. We welcome people, help them learn Kannada, and make their livelihood easier."
"Instead of spreading hatred, imagine how beautiful the content could be if it highlighted the unity and diversity that make Bangalore special. Please stop spreading hate."
Digital creator and influencer Kusuma Rajanna said that Kannadigas would prefer an empty city. "We want an empty city! Please leave, we are not running Bengaluru with your money, and your home is running because of Bengaluru. If you respected our language, land, and culture, we wouldn’t say these things. It’s your actions that have caused people to be upset with you."
Sharma, however, did not back down. In successive reels on Instagram, she said that she loves Bengaluru and that the video was meant only for comedy. The self-professed traveller claimed that she tries to absorb the culture of the cities she visits and has been trying to learn Kannada as well. Sharma further urged others not to use her reel to spread hate. "Everyone should have an open mind," she said. "I love Bengaluru so don't spread hate."
In another video she stated that she moved to Bengaluru three years ago for fame, money and to find a life partner. "Bangalore, I am here to stay," she declared.
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