After criticising Swiggy’s delivery services on social media, a Bengaluru woman caused a stir. She expressed her dissatisfaction with the lack of Kannada-speaking delivery agents in the city in a post on X (formerly Twitter), which sparked a new conversation regarding language preferences in Karnataka. The woman’s comments have heightened the insider-outsider dispute, with many residents calling for job chances to be biased towards Kannadigas.
The woman posted a screenshot of her Swiggy order on social media with the caption, “Bengaluru is in Karnataka or Pakistan @swiggy? Neither Kannada nor English are spoken or understood by your delivery person. Do you think we will teach him Hindi, our country’s official language? Give up forcing stuff on us, and make sure your delivery staff is fluent in Kannada. The post has received more than 2.5 lakh views and a flurry of user responses.
Check out the post here:
Bengaluru is in Karnataka or Pakistan @Swiggy ?
— Rekha 🌸 (@detached_98) September 12, 2024
Your delivery guy is neither speaking nor understanding #kannada ,not even #English. Do you expect us to learn his state language #Hindi in our land?
Stop imposing things on us and make sure your delivery persons know #Kannada. pic.twitter.com/smzQ6Mp7SV
Responses from social media users
Numerous users have responded to the post with a variety of viewpoints on the matter. “Due to ongoing language tensions in Karnataka, reports suggest that 53 companies from Surat, Lucknow, and Indore have been approached to relocate—14 of which are multinationals,” Ankit Verma said, highlighting the possible economic consequences of the language controversy. This might have a big impact on Bengaluru’s startup scene and international visibility. Will the city’s standing as a tech hub endure?
Some users highlighted more pragmatic issues, with one saying, “Who cares about the delivery boy’s language skills as long as the delivery is done on time!” The woman’s opinions were questioned by another user, who asked: “Is Bengaluru in Karnataka or England? English was not historically used as a cultural language in Karnataka, as far as I know.
Diverse opinions and support
As the discussion went on, some individuals questioned the woman’s presumptions. Is Hindi an official national language or a state language, as Shweta Bansal questioned? A formula in three languages? Do you think you are above the law?
