Workers of the Kittur Karnataka Sena staged a protest in Belagavi on Monday, demanding that industries prioritize employment opportunities for Kannadigas and cease the practice of assigning senior positions to individuals from other states, which they argue is unjust to local residents.
Led by organization president Mahesh Shigihalli, the demonstrators gathered at Channamma Chowk to insist that various industries in the district provide more job opportunities to Kannadigas. The protesters expressed anger, stating that while the district has a sufficient number of educated and qualified Kannadiga youth, they are not receiving suitable employment opportunities. In contrast, they alleged that people from other states are being given senior posts in industries, leading to injustice for local Kannadigas in the job market.
The protesters also alleged that discrimination based on language is occurring in some factories, with complaints that Kannada-speaking workers and job seekers are being treated unfairly. They demanded that such discrimination be stopped and that local Kannadigas be given appropriate representation in employment and senior positions. Additionally, the protesters urged the government to abandon the privatization process of Kannada government schools and to protect the interests of the Kannada language, Kannadigas, and the employment rights of locals.
The group warned that if policies that marginalize Kannadigas continue, they would intensify their struggle, emphasizing that local Kannadigas must receive employment and opportunities alongside the growth of industries.
