SBI Manager Transferred After Refusing To Speak Kannada In Karnataka Branch

A branch manager at the State Bank of India (SBI) in Chandapura, near Bengaluru, has been transferred following public outrage over her refusal to converse in Kannada with a customer. A video of the incident, which went viral on social media, shows the woman manager insisting on speaking only in Hindi, despite repeated requests from the customer to use the local language.

In the video, the manager is heard saying, “I will not speak in Kannada for sure… but Hindi,” sparking backlash from Kannada activists and pro-Kannada organisations who accused the official of violating customer service norms and disrespecting linguistic diversity.

The controversy prompted swift political reactions.

Such Incidents Should Not Recur: CM

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah lauded SBI’s quick response in transferring the manager. In a statement shared on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), he condemned the incident and said such behavior "disregards the rights of citizens."

“We appreciate SBI’s swift action. The matter may now be considered closed, but I urge authorities to ensure such incidents are not repeated,” Siddaramaiah said. He also called on the Finance Ministry and the Department of Financial Services to introduce mandatory language and cultural sensitivity training for bank employees nationwide.

BJP MP from Bengaluru South, Tejasvi Surya, also weighed in, saying that it was unacceptable for bank staff in Karnataka to refuse service in Kannada. He emphasised that local languages must be respected in public-facing institutions.

Echoing similar sentiments, former Infosys CFO TV Mohandas Pai emphasized the importance of linguistic inclusivity in customer service. “In every state, service professionals should make an effort to communicate in the regional language. Hindi is not the default over the local language,” he said.

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