Row over Kannada language takes centre stage again — this time it’s a Malayali bank employee facing the backlash | VIDEO

Bengaluru – A Malayalam-speaking bank employee in Karnataka has come under fire after a customer lodged a complaint against her for not being able to speak Kannada. The incident occurred at the Canara Bank branch under the AIT Circle in Chikkamagaluru, where the woman customer expressed her displeasure and caused a commotion after realising the staff member did not communicate in Kannada.

According to reports, the customer had visited the bank to inquire about a deduction from her account and demanded an explanation. The employee, not knowing Kannada, responded in English. This reportedly angered the customer, who claimed she could not understand anything the employee said and insisted that communication be done in Kannada. A video of the confrontation, which took place a few days ago, recently went viral on social media.

The employee in question is reportedly a Malayali. In the video, the customer is seen stating that she does not understand English and demanding that the bank employee speak in Kannada.

Following the video's circulation, several pro-Kannada organisations intervened in the matter, criticising banks for appointing staff who are not proficient in the local language. The organisations argued that, at the very least, branches located in rural areas—where many customers may not speak Hindi or English—should ensure the presence of Kannada-speaking staff.

In response to the controversy, Canara Bank issued an official statement emphasising its commitment to regional languages.

“Kannada is our foundation. Your support is our strength. Karnataka is not just a state for Canara Bank—it is our birthplace. Kannada is not merely a language to us; it is an emotion and a matter of pride,” the bank said.

The statement further added that Canara Bank is committed to providing services in local languages across all branches and acknowledged that India’s linguistic diversity sometimes results in staff being posted from other states.

This incident is not isolated. A similar situation occurred previously at an SBI branch in Anekal, Karnataka, where protests erupted after the manager, also a woman, stated she did not speak Kannada. Following the public outcry and viral footage of the encounter, she was eventually transferred from the branch.