Karnataka minister welcomes Lenskart to set up factory in Bengaluru; netizens cautions Peyush Bansal

Netizens warned Bansal about obstacles if his employees do not speak Kannada and also pointed that Bengaluru was overcrowded.

The post shared by M B Patil on his official X account gained over 131.5 K views.

Lenskart founder Peyush Bansal shared on LinkedIn how his company is searching for 25 acres of land near Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru for their next biggest factory. Responding to the post on social media platform X with a screenshot, M B Patil, Minister for Commerce and Industries, Infrastructure of Government of Karnataka, said, “Karnataka is the place to be! @peyushbansal @Lenskart_com Industries Department is here to support you, and facilitate all your needs. Concerned officials will reach out, immediately.”

However, the minister’s response did not go down well with netizens with many cautioning Bansal that there may be obstacles if his employees do not speak Kannada and warned of potential disruptions to factory operations.

Karnataka is the place to be! @peyushbansal @Lenskart_com Industries Department is here to support you, and facilitate all your needs.

Concerned officials will reach out, immediately. pic.twitter.com/9KTikkx8GJ

— M B Patil (@MBPatil) April 9, 2024

One user wrote, “B careful Mr.Bansal, tomorrow they may want to take over the land and factory and distribute it amongst the poor workers as their master wants.”

Netizens also pointed to the violent protests that had erupted in various parts of Bengaluru on December 27, 2023 over language row as the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) had directed all businesses to have 60 per cent Kannada signages.

B careful Mr.Bansal, tomorrow they may want to take over the land and factory and distribute it amongst the poor worker as their master wants …

— Manish P Gawde (@prince_man11) April 9, 2024

Beware Mr. Bansal tomorrow they might not let you operate if all your employees do not speak Kannada and thod phod your factory too

— Punita Toraskar ( Modi Ka Parivaar) (@impuni) April 9, 2024

According to PTI videos and reports, pro-Kannada protesters sporting yellow and red scarfs (the colour of Kannada flag), tore down English signage demanding immediate implementation of the order. The activists had taken out rallies in various parts of the city, especially in the business hubs such as MG Road, Brigade Road, Lavelle Road, UB City, Chamarajapet, Chickpet, Kempe Gowda Road, Gandhi Nagar, St Marks Road, Cunningham Road, Residency Road and Sadahalli Gate near Devanahalli.

VIDEO | Members of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike tear down posters in English on Bengaluru streets, warning commercial establishments to install billboards in Kannada. pic.twitter.com/LVQUUVj2DV

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 27, 2023

VIDEO | Members of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, protesting in Bengaluru over their demand of use of boards with 60% signage in Kannada by commercial establishment, detained by police. pic.twitter.com/xZowMJ7xbt

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 27, 2023

A few others suggested the availability of land at cheaper rate in other parts of Karnataka as Bengaluru was overcrowded. One user suggested, “Near to Mysore Airport we have Chamarajanagara Industrial area where the factory should be established. You will get land at cheaper rate and skilled manpower from Mysore – chamarajnagara region.” Another quipped, “Only one request to try buying non irrigated land. Also make sure no farmers are badly affected by it.”

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A fifth user explained how overcrowded Bengaluru has become and wrote, “Bengaluru is already overcrowded . Please suggest North Karnataka . Also please make sure that these companies reserve group C and D jobs to natives. Else no point in having these companies in Karnataka.”