#BoycottPhonePe: Kannadigas Troll CEO Sameer Nigam Over Jobs Quota Post, Leave Payments App

The Chandigarh News

Furious Kannadigas Uninstall PhonePe After CEO Sameer Nigam’s Job Quota Bill Comments. Social Media Users Urge Switch to GooglePay. #BoycottPhonePe.

Social media users in Karnataka have called for a boycott of PhonePe after CEO Sameer Nigam criticized the job quota bill. Furious Kannadigas accused Nigam of being “against the interests of Karnataka,” with many posting photos of themselves uninstalling the payments app.

“Hi all Kannadigas, this guy is the Founder and CEO of PhonePe and he is openly against Kannadigas and the interests of Karnataka. Please uninstall PhonePe from your mobiles and try to use GooglePay or any other apps of your choice,” urged one X user.

“I always preferred PhonePe over other UPI apps due to its Swadeshi origin. CEO Sameer Nigam, Karnataka helped you grow. You came here to build your career, not to improve Bengaluru. This is the time to say goodbye to PhonePe. #UninstallPhonePe #BoycottPhonePe,” insisted another.

It’s good that Kannada people are teaching him a lesson with the #UninstallPhonePe campaign. He must apologize. Mr. Sameer Nigam, the Constitution of India does not say to disrespect the local language,” opined a third user.

Nigam had been vocal in his criticism after the Karnataka government introduced the job quota bill.

“I am 46 years old and have never lived in one state for more than 15 years. My father worked in the Indian Navy and was posted all over the country. His kids don’t deserve jobs in Karnataka? I build companies and have created over 25,000 jobs across India! My kids don’t deserve jobs in their home city?” he asked.

Meanwhile, members of the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike have threatened to revolt against the Siddaramaiah government if the bill is not passed within the next 15 to 20 days. KRV chief TA Narayana Gowda alleged on Thursday that some IT companies are pressuring the Congress-led government and preventing the Chief Minister from passing the bill.

“On Monday, the cabinet approved the bill, and it was scheduled to be tabled today. However, a few IT companies pressured the government, threatening to leave Karnataka if the bill was introduced. Alternatively, these companies may have influenced the ‘high command’ to stop Siddaramaiah from moving forward with it,” he claimed.

“We are not begging companies or corporates; we are asking for our rights. Don’t we have the right to request this? If they threaten to leave Karnataka, can we stop them? I assure you, they won’t find a place like Karnataka elsewhere.”