PhonePe CEO and Founder Sameer Nigam recently faced backlash for his comments on Karnataka’s job quota bill, which proposed reservation for locals in private sector jobs. The comments led to criticism and calls for a boycott of PhonePe on social media.
Nigam’s Apology and Clarification
On Sunday, Sameer Nigam issued an “unconditional apology” for his remarks. He stated that he never intended to insult Karnataka or its residents. In his personal statement, Nigam emphasized his respect for the state, acknowledging that PhonePe originated in Bengaluru and expressing pride in its diverse and vibrant tech community.
“I read some recent media articles, relating to a few personal comments that I made last week regarding the draft job reservation bill. I would first and foremost like to clarify that it was NEVER my intention to insult Karnataka and its people,”
Sameer Nigam, PhonePe CEO
Acknowledgment of Karnataka’s Contribution
Nigam highlighted that PhonePe’s success and growth are deeply connected to Bengaluru’s supportive business environment and its reputation as the ‘Silicon Valley of India.’ He praised the city’s culture of innovation and its role in attracting top talent from across India.
“The city thrives on an incredible culture of innovation, and attracts the most brilliant young minds from Karnataka and the rest of India. As a company, we are deeply grateful for the supportive business environment that Karnataka’s governments and its local Kannadiga populace have offered us,” Nigam added.
Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
In his apology, Nigam reaffirmed PhonePe’s commitment to diversity and merit-based employment. He stressed that the company values fair and unbiased opportunities for all Indians, including local Kannadigas.
“As a company we also thrive on celebrating diversity, we have always tried hard to deliver fair, unbiased and meritocracy-based employment opportunities for all Indians — including all local Kannadigas,” Nigam said.
Addressing Future Employment Opportunities
Nigam expressed a desire to contribute to job creation in Bengaluru and Karnataka. He believes that through dialogue and discussion, more sustainable employment opportunities can be created.
“I also want to help create lakhs of jobs for Bengaluru and Karnataka. And, I believe with more dialogue and discussion, we can find ways to create more sustainable employment avenues,” he said.
Reaction to Social Media Backlash
Nigam’s initial comments on the job quota bill, shared on X (formerly Twitter), had sparked significant controversy. In his post, Nigam questioned the fairness of the job reservation bill, which led to widespread criticism and calls for PhonePe to be boycotted.
“My father worked in the Indian Navy. Got posted all over the country. His kids don’t deserve jobs in Karnataka? I build companies. Have created 25000+ jobs across India!” Nigam had posted, which elicited a strong negative reaction from users in Karnataka.
