‘Still Can’t Speak Kannada After Years…’: Cars24 CEO Sparks Debate with Hiring Post Targeting Bengaluru’s Language Issues
Cars24 CEO Vikram Chopra's hiring post sparks debate on Bengaluru's language issues, highlighting migrant struggles with Kannada, social media controversies.
Bengaluru, the startup capital of India and home to multiple tech MNCs, always stays in the news. Sometimes it’s because of its traffic, sometimes because of the hustling culture where people can be seen taking meetings on their scooters or while shopping, and sometimes for the #PeakBengaluru moments. But nowadays, the city is in the news because of the language issues faced by migrants from other states.
Initially, this issue was quite minimal, but with the help of social media campaigns and hashtags, it has been escalated to another level. Many people working in the city have shared their experiences of facing racism for not knowing the Kannada language. There were reports that local auto drivers refused to take passengers who didn’t know Kannada. Cases of Uber, Ola, and Rapido drivers being beaten have also been reported. Due to these incidents, many social media users have stated that they are considering leaving the city. Now, a Delhi-based CEO’s post has sparked a new controversy by a posting a job opening targeting the language issue of the tech city.
Vikram Chopra’s Post on X
Amidst this, Vikram Chopra, CEO of Cars24, posted a hiring ad that sparked a new controversy by taking a jab at Bengaluru's Kannada language issue.
In the caption of his post he wrote, “We are not saying Delhi NCR is better. Only that it really is. If you wish to come back, write to me at vikram@cars24.com with the subject - Delhi meri jaan”
We are not saying Delhi NCR is better. Only that it really is.
— Vikram Chopra (@vikramchopra) December 19, 2024
If you wish to come back, write to me at vikram@cars24.com with the subject - Delhi meri jaan ♥️ pic.twitter.com/lgQpXMiaKt
In his post he shared a picture for the job opening of engineers who want to work and live “closer to home” in the Delhi NCR.
The image text says “Still can’t speak Kannada after years in Bengaluru? It’s okay. Aa jao Dilli (come to Delhi),” in the job post for engineers. “We are looking for kickass engineers who wish to stay close to home,” the post further said.
Users Reaction to the Post
And as always this post started a debate on X and the users shared their views on it.
One of the user quoted Vikram’s old post which says, “The most difficult thing in Delhi is to deal with its people.” The user asked him to delete this post to which Vikram replied, “Tedha hai par mera hai.”
Another user said, “"We are looking for people who wish to stay close to home" This is probably not the message you'd wanna post in a hiring call. So basically you want north indians/delhiites in your team? Rest of the folks?”
A third user wrote, “If one can find Delhi through all the smog , we will be able to verify your statement.”
“If Kannadigas tell Hindi speakers to learn & speak in Kannada is issue for you all ( Usually this happens after a Hindi speaker tell like - Hindi me bolo to non Hindi speaker- Kannadiga). And now you can tell Aa jao Dilli!. From where you get this attitude of Hindi superiority?,” comment a fourth user.
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