- SBI Employee’s Hindi Insistence
- Karnataka Customer Left Furious
Article Today, Bengaluru:
A heated argument between a State Bank of India (SBI) employee and a customer in Karnataka’s Annekal taluk has sparked a major language controversy in the state. The incident, which occurred at the Suryanagar branch, has gone viral on social media, with many expressing outrage over the employee’s behavior.
‘ I Never Speak in Kannada’
The trouble began when the customer asked the SBI official to speak in Kannada, but she refused and insisted on speaking in Hindi instead. The customer reminded her that they were in Karnataka, but the official retorted that this was India, and she would speak in Hindi. The situation escalated, with the official eventually storming off, saying she would never speak in Kannada.
Social Media Outrage…
The video of the incident quickly went viral, with many netizens expressing anger and disappointment over the official’s behavior. They demanded strict action against her, tagging the Union Finance Minister and the Reserve Bank of India in their posts. Many criticized her for disrespecting the Kannada language and violating RBI guidelines.
Apology and Transfer…
As the situation spiralled out of control, the SBI official released a video apology in Kannada, saying she was sorry if she had hurt anyone’s feelings and would try to speak in Kannada from now on. However, many criticized her for apologizing too late and only under pressure. Meanwhile, the SBI took swift action and transferred the official.
CM’s Condemnation…
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah strongly condemned the incident, saying the SBI official’s behavior was unacceptable and shameful. He welcomed the SBI’s decision to transfer her and urged the Finance Ministry to take steps to prevent such incidents in the future. “Respecting the local language is equivalent to respecting the people,” he emphasized.
