PhonePe founder and CEO Sameer Nigam issued a public apology on Sunday following a controversy over his comments regarding Karnataka’s job reservation Bill for locals. The apology came after #uninstallphonepe began trending on social media platforms in response to Nigam’s remarks.In a statement, Nigam expressed regret for any unintended offence caused by his remarks.
He stated, “It was NEVER my intention to insult Karnataka and its people. If my comments hurt anyone’s sentiments, I am truly sorry and would like to offer you an unconditional apology.”Nigam emphasised his deep connection to Karnataka, and said, “I have lived in Bengaluru for 22+ years. My wife and I got married here. Both our children were born here. We love Karnataka deeply and consider ourselves very much a part of this great state.”
On the language issue, he said, “I have tremendous respect for Kannada and all Indian languages. Our linguistic diversity is a national asset and something we should all be proud of.” He added that PhonePe has been actively localising its app in Kannada and other Indian languages.Regarding the tech industry’s concerns, Nigam said, “Indian startups in Bengaluru are competing against trillion-dollar tech giants like Google, Apple, Amazon, and Microsoft.”
He stressed the need for merit-based hiring, stating, “To build world-class companies capable of competing in today’s global marketplace, we must prioritise talent based on merit. The only criteria we look at while hiring is their proficiency in coding, design, product management, data sciences, machine learning, and artificial intelligence.”
“PhonePe is proud to be headquartered in Bengaluru. We are committed to creating thousands of new jobs in Karnataka in the years to come,” he added. Last week, the Karnataka Cabinet approved a Bill mandating 50% reservation for locals in management roles and 70% in non-management positions within private companies. Additionally, it proposed 100% quota for locals in ‘C&D’ grade government jobs. The controversial Bill was put on hold following huge backlash from industry. Nigam criticised the Bill on social media platform X, sparking backlash from some quarters.
“I am 46 years old. Never lived in a state for 15+ years. My father worked in the Indian Navy. Got posted all over the country. His kids don’t deserve jobs in Karnataka? I build companies. Have created 25000+ jobs across India! My kids don’t deserve jobs in their home city? Shame,” he had said.