Bengaluru: A Zomato warehouse supervisor here has faced criticism from pro-Kannada organisations after allegedly telling Kannada-speaking workers to learn Hindi or leave their jobs.

The incident reportedly took place at a warehouse near Madanayakanahalli in north Bengaluru and came to light after a video of the supervisor, identified as Ashok, circulated on social media.

In the video, Ashok is heard telling workers that he would communicate only in Hindi and that those who were unwilling to learn the language should leave.

The remarks triggered a backlash from pro-Kannada organisations, which accused the supervisor of disrespecting local employees and called for his dismissal.

Members of the organisations subsequently visited the warehouse after reports of the incident emerged and confronted the management, seeking action against the supervisor.

Amid the controversy, Ashok later issued an apology in Kannada in a video message.

The Zomato controversy comes amid a series of language-related disputes reported in Bengaluru in recent years. In May 2025, an SBI branch manager faced backlash after a video showed her refusing to speak Kannada with a customer and insisting on Hindi.

The incident triggered a political reaction, with then Chief Minister Siddaramaiah condemning the remarks and calling for action against the official. The manager later apologised in Kannada.

Similar tensions over the use of Kannada and Hindi have also been reported at other workplaces in Bengaluru, highlighting the recurring sensitivity around language in the city's increasingly diverse workforce.