Full Breakdown
Zomato Warehouse Supervisor’s Hindi-Only Directive Triggers Pro-Kannada Protests in Bengaluru
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Incident: Supervisor Demands Hindi or Exit
A shift supervisor at a Zomato-rented warehouse in the Madanayakanahalli area on Bengaluru’s outskirts was recorded telling Kannada-speaking staff that they must learn Hindi if they wished to continue working under his supervision, otherwise they should leave. The supervisor, identified as Ashok Muttayy, a 31-year-old from Andhra Pradesh, said he did not know Kannada and would communicate only in Hindi. When an employee reminded him that the workplace was in Karnataka, he responded that the state’s language was irrelevant and reiterated his demand that employees learn Hindi or quit.
Background: Language Sensitivities in Karnataka
Karnataka’s official language is Kannada, and the state has a long-standing debate over the use of Hindi and other languages in public and private workplaces. Migrant workers from other Indian states are common in Bengaluru’s logistics and services sectors, and periodic tensions arise when language preferences are perceived as imposing one linguistic group over another. The incident occurred against this backdrop, prompting rapid online and on-ground reactions.
Official Responses: Police Action and Apology
Following the viral video, local authorities registered a suo motu case against Muttayy. An investigating officer, speaking to a major newspaper, confirmed that a petition had been filed with the Madanayakanahalli police and that the supervisor was briefly taken into custody to restore order during the protests. After the police intervention, Muttayy posted a video apology in Kannada, speaking with folded hands and stating that he would not repeat the remarks.
Opposition: Pro-Kannada Activism
Members of several pro-Kannada organisations assembled outside the warehouse, demanding strict action and the removal of the supervisor. They submitted formal complaints to the police and called for enforcement of language norms in the workplace. Social-media users also expressed criticism, describing the supervisor’s comments as an attempt to impose Hindi in a non-Hindi-speaking state and questioning the sincerity of his subsequent apology.
Timeline of Key Events
- Early October 2026 – The video of Muttayy’s Hindi-only directive circulates on social platforms, prompting immediate backlash.
- October 4, 2026 – A social-media post highlights the supervisor’s refusal to speak Kannada, amplifying public outrage.
- October 5, 2026 – Pro-Kannada groups gather outside the warehouse; police register a suo motu case and briefly detain the supervisor.
- Subsequent days – Muttayy releases an apology video in Kannada, pledging not to repeat the incident.
Impact and Ongoing Discussion
The episode has reignited Karnataka’s broader conversation about linguistic rights and workplace communication. While the police have taken procedural steps against the supervisor, pro-Kannada activists continue to call for stricter enforcement of Kannada usage in local businesses. Zomato has not issued a separate corporate statement within the available reports, leaving the company’s internal response to the incident unclear. The incident underscores the delicate balance between a multilingual workforce and regional language expectations in India’s rapidly expanding urban economies.
