Sameer Nigam, CEO and Founder of the fintech firm PhonePe, issued an unconditional apology on Sunday following widespread backlash over his comments regarding Karnataka’s job reservation bill.
“I would first and foremost like to clarify that it was NEVER my intention to insult Karnataka and its people. If my comments hurt anyone’s sentiments in such a way, I am truly sorry and would like to offer you an unconditional apology. I have the highest regard for Kannada, and all other Indian languages. In fact, I truly believe that linguistic diversity and rich cultural heritage is a national asset that all Indians should be proud of; and all Indians should be respectful of and celebrate local and cultural norms,” Nigam said in a statement.
He added that his intent is to aid in job creation for Bengaluru and Karnataka. “I believe with more dialogue and discussion, we can find ways to create more sustainable employment avenues. Let’s all work together to do this meaningfully and while creating long-term impact,” he said.
Nigam’s statement further emphasized PhonePe’s appreciation for the supportive business environment in Karnataka. “As a company, we are deeply grateful for the supportive business environment that Karnataka’s governments and its local Kannadiga populace have offered us. Without such an inclusive ecosystem and progressive policies, Bengaluru would not have become a global technology superpower. As a company we also thrive on celebrating diversity, we have always tried hard to deliver fair, unbiased and meritocracy-based employment opportunities for all Indians – including to all local Kannadigas. We believe such an approach gives every Indian a good job a chance to shine, and ultimately helps create more societal and economic value for Bengaluru, Karnataka, and India.”
The controversy began when Nigam criticized the job reservation bill on social media platform X. He expressed his concerns in a post: “I am 46 years old. Never lived in a state for 15+ yrs. 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 don’t deserve jobs in their home city? Shame”. This post led to significant trolling and calls for a boycott of PhonePe by social media users in Karnataka.
The Karnataka government decided last week to hold back the bill, which would require all private establishments to hire local Kannadigas. In a post on X, Karnataka Chief Minister S Siddaramaiah stated that the bill was still in draft form and would be deliberated further in the next cabinet meeting. The proposed bill has faced criticism from various sectors, including concerns that it could lead to companies relocating from Karnataka to other states. Nasscom, the technology industry body, highlighted that the technology sector contributes nearly 25% of Karnataka’s GDP and warned that the bill could reverse the state’s progress.
Nigam concluded his statement by reiterating his commitment to creating jobs and supporting the local economy in Karnataka.
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