'Shame': Phonepe CEO Sameer Nigam reacts to Karnataka's private job quota bill. Viral post

The proposed job bill faced criticism not only from business leaders like Sameer Nigam but also from various industry bodies.

PhonePe CEO and co-founder Sameer Nigam recently expressed his dissatisfaction with the Karnataka government’s proposed private jobs quota bill, which mandates reservations for locals. The bill required that 50% of all management positions and 70% of all non-management positions in private companies be reserved for local residents. However, the bill has since been put on hold following significant backlash.

Nigam took to X (formerly Twitter) to voice his concerns about the bill. “I am 46 years old. Never lived in a state for 15+ years. My father worked in the Indian Navy. Got posted all over the country. His kids don't deserve jobs in Karnataka? I build companies. Have created 25,000+ jobs across India! My kids don't deserve jobs in their home city? Shame," he wrote in his post. Nigam's comments came before the government decided to pause the bill's implementation.

I am 46-years-old. Never lived in a state for 15+ yrs

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My father worked in the Indian Navy. Got posted all over the country. His kids don't deserve jobs in Karnataka?

I build companies. Have created 25000+ jobs across India! My kids dont deserve jobs in their home city?

Shame.

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— Sameer.Nigam (@_sameernigam) July 17, 2024

Nigam's post went viral garnering several comments from social media users.

"Who says you don’t deserve Jobs in Karnataka? All you have to do is LEARN THE LANGUAGE! Why so much hue and cry?" a user questioned. To  which the CEO replied, "Karnataka <> only Kannada speaking people. Get it? I can work wherever I want in India. I can learn any language that I want to. The constitution of India gives me these rights. IT'S MY CHOICE. Get the hue and cry."

Another user commented, "People of Karnataka got exactly what they bargained for, not an inch less, not an inch more."

"There’s one thing that this came up, what makes it worse is the support it is getting from so called educated folks. Their leaders have convinced them that Bangalore would be better off without the migrant population, the hate they have for the rest of us is astonishing," a third user stated.

The proposed legislation faced criticism not only from business leaders like Nigam but also from various industry bodies. They argued that the bill could stifle growth, impact job creation, and potentially force companies to relocate. Nasscom, representing the IT industry, raised concerns that the mandated reservation could hamper the sector's development and lead to significant challenges for businesses operating in Karnataka.

Responding to the backlash, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced that the bill would be temporarily put on hold. “The draft bill intended to provide reservations for Kannadigas in private sector companies, industries, and enterprises is still in the preparation stage. A comprehensive discussion will be held in the next cabinet meeting to make a final decision,” he stated on X.

Earlier, the Karnataka cabinet had approved the bill, which sought to provide 100% reservation for Kannadigas in C and D-grade posts within private industries. The move was met with widespread opposition, particularly from IT firms, which expressed concerns about its potential negative impact on the industry and job market.