Social media post sparks debate on impact of 'uncontrolled' migration on Bengaluru infra

Bengaluru: A recent social media post has intensified the debate in the city over the impact of uncontrolled migration on Bengaluru's failing infrastructure and the demand for job reservations for local Kannadigas.

Kannada activist Arun Javgal's post, which quickly went viral, linked the city's notorious traffic gridlock using the Hebbal flyover as a prime example of collapsed infrastructure directly to a "traffic nightmare" caused by an influx of migrants.

"When the Hebbal flyover opened in 2004-05, it was a matter of pride... But just two decades later, it has turned into a traffic nightmare. Why? Because no infrastructure can survive uncontrolled migration," the post reads, asserting that "lakhs keep pouring into Bengaluru every year without any planning or limits," straining essential resources like roads, drainage, housing, and water supply, his post read.

Speaking to DH, he also highlighted the paradox of Karnataka heavily investing to attract industries while expecting little in return for the local population. "Karnataka invests heavily to attract industries, providing land, power and infrastructure. So what's wrong in expecting more employment for local Kannadigas in return?" he asked.

He criticised Biocon Chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw and former Infosys CFO TV Mohandas Pai, are being "anti-Karnataka" for allegedly opposing the idea of reserving jobs for Kannadigas.

Javgal labelled the two as being representatives of "outsider dominance over Kannada Nadu," claiming their focus on "profit matters more than the livelihoods of Kannadigas."

"They forget that uncontrolled migration doesn't just affect jobs, it strains our roads, housing, water, and quality of life," he said, proposing that a "sensible local employment law" would help reduce migration pressure, protect infrastructure, and create sustainable development.

The X post also took aim at Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who has previously spoken about giving priority in jobs to local Kannadigas. Javgal alleged the chief minister "went silent" the moment Shaw and Pai objected to the policy, suggesting that the state's leadership is being dictated by "Gujarati Kiran and Konkani Mohan," leading to a situation where "Kannadigas need approval from Gujarati Kiran Shaw and Konkani Mohandas Pai to get what is rightfully ours."