The Karnataka government is planning an amendment to the state's Industrial Employment Rules.
The Karnataka government is planning an amendment to the state's Industrial Employment Rules that would suggest that private industries getting government concessions hire only Kannadigas for Group C and D or lower-level jobs. Kannadigas are defined as those who were born in Karnataka or who have lived in the state for 15 years and can speak, read and write Kannada.
Labour minister Santosh Lad told NDTV that the C and D posts are blue-collar jobs, in which mostly Kannadigas are already being hired.
"By this time they must be giving 90% jobs, we are asking them to make it 100%," he said. But the law, he added, will not be mandatory. "If they are not able to get such people in Karnataka, obviously they can get it from outside," he added.
Mr Lad said the high profile IT and BT companies, for which Bengaluru is known, would not be covered by this move. But he added, "somewhere we have to start - tomorrow who knows we may get into IT-BT also."
But with the assembly elections in Karnataka due in 2018, the BJP has questioned the move even though they say they support it.
Suresh Kumar, BJP leader and former law minister, told NDTV, "My party and I feel there should be some steps towards giving the rightful place to Kannada-speaking people in our industries".
But he questioned the timing of the step, which he described as "appeasing towards a section".
"The step is being taken at the fag end of 2016... Without proper planning and discussion, I wonder whether this amendment will stand the scrutiny of the law."
Many Kannadigas are all for it.
Jagadish said, "Today they want the land and the water of Karnataka. Don't the industries want Kannadigas?"
Another resident, Savithri Lal, felt Kannadigas should be given preference. "People from all over people are residing here. We Kannadigas are not getting jobs in Karnataka," she said.
But there are those who question the move.
"It will be unnecessary burden upon the private sector if they come up with such reservation in any kind," a lawyer said.