&w=3840&q=100)
CM Siddaramaiah slams SBI manager for refusing to speak Kannada
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday condemned the conduct of an SBI branch manager in Bengaluru for allegedly refusing to speak in Kannada and arguing with a customer over it.
The matter flared up when a purported video of an SBI branch manager in Anekal taluk went viral on social media, on Tuesday, in which she is arguing with a customer saying, 'I will not speak in Kannada for sure.......but Hindi'.
Despite the customer citing Reserve Bank of India (RBI) regulations — which requires bank staff to communicate in the regional language — the manager can be heard repeatedly declining to do so.
Referring to the incident, CM said, 'The behaviour of the SBI Branch Manager in Surya Nagara, Anekal Taluk refusing to speak in Kannada & English and showing disregard to citizens, is strongly condemnable. We appreciate SBI's swift action in transferring the official. The matter may now be treated as closed.'
He further appreciated SBI's swift action in transferring the official. 'The matter may now be treated as closed,' he said, adding that such incidents must not recur.
'All bank employees must treat customers with dignity and make every effort to speak in the local language. I urge the Ministry of Finance & Dept of Financial Services to mandate cultural and language sensitisation training for all bank staff across India. Respecting the local language is respecting the people,' Siddaramaiah posted on X.
The episode comes amid simmering linguistic tensions in several states, including Karnataka and Maharashtra, where local language advocates have pushed back against what they see as Hindi imposition. They demand that people living in or moving to these states for work should make an effort to communicate in the regional language.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Lokayukta police seek details of allotment of sites under MDA
Mysuru: Lokayukta police, conducting a thorough investigation into the Mysuru Development Authority's (MDA) controversial 50:50 site-sharing scheme, have sought details of the allotment of sites under the scheme. The special court overseeing the case granted Lokayukta police additional time until June 17 to complete their investigation and submit a comprehensive report in connection with the sites given to institutions and individuals in the land-swap scheme. Earlier, the Lokayukta probed charges against chief minister Siddaramaiah, his wife Parvathi, brother-in-law BM Mallikarjuna Swamy, and a landowner, Devaraj, and submitted a report to the court clearing all charges against the CM in the case. Later, Lokayukta police bought time from the court to probe other cases. According to the Lokayukta probe, about 1,055 sites were given to various individuals and institutions, including societies, in the land-swap scheme, in which sites in developed layouts were given to owners and GPA holders for land acquired by the development authority. Superintendent of police, Lokayukta, TJ Udesha, who is the investigation officer in the case, told TOI that they sought documents of sites given under the controversial 50:50 scheme. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo The team requested an extension of time to properly analyse the substantial volume of documents and conduct necessary interviews with relevant stakeholders. Following the submission of the application to MDA, the Lokayukta office received about 200 property documents, which the investigating team members are examining in each case to uncover potential irregularities in the allocation process. The MDA officials are cooperating with the investigation by providing requested documents and information, he said. The probe aims to determine whether there was any wrongdoing of established guidelines or misuse of power in the implementation of the site-sharing scheme. The investigation is particularly focused on the verification of beneficiary credentials, adherence to allocation criteria, and proper documentation of the entire process. MDA special land acquisition officer KR Rakshith, who is holding additional charge as commissioner of MDA, said the authority has been sharing all details and documents sought by Lokayukta police. Recently, the Lokayukta cops sought documents of sites given to individuals and institutions when DB Natesh served as commissioner of the erstwhile Muda, Rakshith stated. Sources claimed that the investigation agency is focusing on 42 sites given during the time of the former commissioner. Natesh earlier denied the charges.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Doubts arise over completing caste census afresh in 90 days
Bengaluru: Doubts have arisen over whether the govt will be able to complete the exhaustive socio-economic and education survey — or the caste census — within the 90-day time frame set by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Since the survey ran into stiff resistance from several communities, especially Lingayats and Vokkaligas, the Congress high command on Tuesday directed the govt to conduct the survey afresh. However, while many legislators say a re-enumeration within this time frame is an impossibility, ministers insist the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes (BC) can complete the survey if it is a "shortened" version of the original. The original survey took two years to complete. BK Hariprasad, MLC and former AICC general secretary, accused the govt of "giving in" to those who claimed there were lapses in the original survey conducted 10 years ago. "These lapses cannot be called unscientific data collection," said Hariprasad. "The govt, in its fresh terms of reference, will have to provide reasons for what is considered unscientific and how it will be addressed in the fresh re-enumeration." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like "내장지방만 쏙 빠집니다!" 신현재, 복부 똥뱃살 순식간에 녹여 신현재 중년 복부비만 개선 더 알아보기 Undo He said re-enumeration cannot stop at only collecting population numbers but will have to go through the process of asking citizens all 52 questions again. "This process will definitely stretch beyond 90 days," he said. However, Siddaramaiah hinted that the govt would likely opt for a shortened survey. "It will only be a re-enumeration. In principle, the govt has accepted the original socio-economic and education survey report and will proceed with it after fresh data emerges," he said. Labour Minister Santosh Lad said he is "confident" the survey will be completed in 90 days. "We already have a large database. Enumerators will not have to visit all houses again," said Lad. "They need to visit only places or houses that need corrections or additions to the existing database. All these will be explained in the terms of reference." He said the terms of reference will be decided at Thursday's special cabinet meeting. Meanwhile, former backward classes commission chairmen, HR Kantharaju, who prepared the 2015 survey report, and Jayaprakash Hegde, who submitted a revised version of the report to the govt in 2024, said they can comment on the possibility of completing the survey in a short time only after the cabinet decides how the re-enumeration will be conducted.
New Indian Express
2 hours ago
- New Indian Express
Shoulder responsibility and ensure justice to the Bengaluru stampede victims
Multiple investigations have been launched into the tragedy. The Karnataka High Court took suo motu cognisance and ordered the government to file a status report, the government ordered a magisterial inquiry and set up a one-man commission headed by a retired HC judge, and a probe by the police's criminal investigation department. It is hoped the inquiries bring to light the omissions and commissions, and who took the crucial decision to hold a victory parade and celebrate in the confines of the stadium. A number of issues require scrutiny: RCB's X post on free passes to the stadium, and whether top police officials' objections were brushed aside by politicians. There were many factors at play: the public rushing to collect the passes, restrictions at the stadium gates, a tired and depleted police force, and lakhs of people pouring in to celebrate the elusive IPL trophy. The Congress high command summoned Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D K Shivakumar and sought an explanation. The opposition has been baying for the resignations of the two leaders and Home Minister G Parameshwara for turning the felicitation into a family and supporters' show, and absolving themselves of accountability. The image of the Congress government has come under severe drubbing and the leaders' stock has hit an all-time low. They should realise that it is in their interest to take responsibility and do justice to the grieving families. They may fall from grace now, but that's part of the leadership role.
