The Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV), a pro-Kannadiga organisation, has launched a month-long statewide campaign demanding greater employment opportunities for Kannadigas in private establishments, particularly those in the information technology (IT) and biotechnology (BT) sectors.The campaign, titled 'Agraha Abhiyana', was launched on November 1 to coincide with Kannada Rajyotsava. As part of the initiative, KRV teams have been visiting private companies across Karnataka, submitting memorandums to their managements and seeking information about the representation of Kannadigas in their workforce and the recruitment practices they follow.Clarifying that the exercise was a campaign and not a protest, KRV state president TA Narayana Gowda said the organisation wanted to ascertain whether qualified candidates from Karnataka were being discriminated against during recruitment and whether they were receiving adequate employment opportunities in private establishments.In Bengaluru, a KRV delegation visited Bagmane Tech Park, where a representative received the memorandum on behalf of IT companies.

According to KRV, the representative responded positively to its demands. KRV teams also approached other companies in Bengaluru, such as Executive Centre India, Quality Evaluations and HP Enterprise, among others, and submitted representations to their managements.Taking to social media platform X on Monday, Gowda said KRV leaders had been divided into several teams and were visiting private companies in different parts of Bengaluru to submit representations seeking employment-related information. "The organisations have responded positively, with assurances that they would provide the required information and ensure employment opportunities for Kannadigas," he said., . . , . , . . / . . , . - . . , . . . .— .. | Narayanagowdru T.A. (@narayanagowdru) November 2, 2026WHAT KRV IS DEMANDING FROM PRIVATE COMPANIESThrough its memorandums, KRV has sought detailed information about the employment profile of private establishments, including the total number of employees, the percentage of Kannadigas in their workforce and the number of local candidates recruited over the past three years.The organisation has also sought details of recruitment criteria, complaints of discrimination against local candidates and the initiatives undertaken by companies to provide skill development, training, internships and employment opportunities to young people from Karnataka.KRV has cited complaints from local job seekers and employees that qualified Kannadigas are not receiving adequate opportunities in IT-BT companies operating in the state.In its representation to companies, the organisation said providing employment to talented young people from Karnataka was not an act of charity but a social responsibility.It has argued that private companies benefiting from Karnataka's land, water, electricity, roads, infrastructure, human resources and government policies should also recognise the employment aspirations of the state's people."We are not prepared to compromise on the issue of employment opportunities for Kannadigas.

This must be implemented in action; mere assurances are not enough," the representation stated.Gowda said the campaign was not directed against any individual private establishment, including IT and BT companies. He maintained that KRV leaders were interacting respectfully with company representatives and were only seeking information and reminding businesses of their social responsibilities."Our demand is that companies operating in Karnataka should provide the lion's share of employment opportunities to Kannadigas.

We are only reminding these organisations of their moral and social responsibility," he said.He also said the campaign was neither intended to create confusion nor an exercise in moral policing. However, he alleged that some people claiming to represent or speak on behalf of private organisations were making statements against the employment rights of Kannadigas and creating confusion.CAMPAIGN CONTINUES DESPITE CM'S WARNINGThe KRV campaign comes a day after Chief Minister DK Shivakumar appealed to Kannada organisations not to target or attack IT companies, warning against taking the law into their own hands.

Shivakumar had, however, earlier warned that IT firms of action if Kannadigas was sidelined in hiring.On Sunday, Shivakumar reiterated the government's commitment to protecting the Kannada language and the people of Karnataka but said complaints relating to employment opportunities should be brought to the government's attention rather than addressed through direct action against private establishments."Kannada organisations should not go and attack IT companies. It is not right to take the law into their own hands.

Moral policing will not be allowed. The government and the police department are there to address such issues.

If there are any complaints or problems, bring them to the notice of the government. The police will take action as per the law," he said.The Chief Minister also said instructions had already been issued to withdraw cases registered against Kannada activists.Despite the appeal, KRV has continued its visits to private establishments, maintaining that its representatives are conducting an information-gathering exercise rather than a protest.Gowda said the 'Agraha Abhiyana' would continue throughout November and cover IT-BT companies as well as other private establishments across Karnataka.Once companies provide the requested employment data and statistics, KRV plans to compile the information, along with grievances collected during the campaign, into a comprehensive report and submit it to the state government and relevant authorities.The organisation has said the exercise is aimed at establishing the extent of employment opportunities available to Kannadigas in private establishments and seeking greater transparency and fair representation in recruitment.- Ends