22 Jul. 24: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has raised serious concerns over a controversial bill passed by Karnataka’s Congress-led government mandating job reservations for local Kannadigas in the private sector.
During a press conference on Friday, Tharoor described the proposed legislation as “unconstitutional” and “unwise.” He expressed relief that the Siddaramaiah-led administration has decided to withhold the bill for now.
Tharoor warned of potential repercussions, stating, “If every state enacts such a law, it would be unconstitutional. According to the Constitution, every citizen has the right to live, work, and travel freely in any part of India.” He cited a previous Supreme Court ruling that rejected a similar initiative by the Haryana government.
The Thiruvananthapuram MP also suggested that businesses might consider relocating to neighboring states like Tamil Nadu and Kerala if the legislation were enacted.
Earlier this week, the Karnataka state Cabinet approved the “Karnataka State Employment of Local Candidates in Industries, Factories, and Other Establishments Bill, 2024,” which requires private companies to reserve a certain percentage of jobs for Kannadigas. However, the bill faced significant opposition from industry stakeholders, including NASSCOM, which warned that such regulations might prompt companies to move out of Karnataka.
Facing mounting pressure, the bill, initially slated for introduction in the Assembly on Thursday, has been put on hold.
