Influencer Faces Backlash After Claiming Bengaluru Can't Survive Without North Indians

An Instagram influencer found herself in hot water after claiming that North Indians were responsible for building Bengaluru and that the city couldn't survive without migrants. Several Kannada celebrities criticized the influencer, urging her to leave Bengaluru as an experiment, accusing her of chasing social media fame by defaming the tech hub.

Sugandh Sharma, who identifies as a travel vlogger, posted a video stating that Bengaluru would "look empty" and local businesses would suffer financially if North Indians left. She said, "Imagine if North Indians in Bengaluru started leaving. PG owners would stop making money as no one would stay in their places. Who would dance to Punjabi music in Koramangala pubs?"

Sharma further argued that Bengaluru would lose its charm if migrants returned to their home states. "The charm of Bengaluru will be gone if migrants leave. Kannadigas should understand this before asking us to go," she added.

The controversial reel quickly went viral, sparking outrage on social media.

Speaking to media, Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) president TA Narayana Gowda said,''Karnataka will not become empty, instead it will become cleaner. If you want to stay, stay quietly; otherwise, pack your bags and leave," issuing a stern warning to the woman of North Indian origin.

Public figures, including actor and rapper Chandan Shetty, actresses Chaithra Achar and Anupama Gowda, along with Bigg Boss fame Rupesh Rajanna and Dhanraj, also expressed their disapproval, criticizing Sharma for her remarks.

Shetty dismissed the video as a mere publicity stunt, while Gowda emphasized the need to preserve harmony in Bengaluru's multicultural environment.

"If you can actually leave, just as an experiment, and see how Bangalore becomes empty, we are ready to live with that emptiness and dancer-less pubs. We can live with it. Really ♥️. Forget all other North Indians. You leave, ma'am, enough for now!" Achar commented.

"If you think this is cool, it's not. You need Bengaluru more than anything, and your leaving doesn't affect our OORU. And for the record, we know you won't leave Bengaluru - if you know, you know," added Gowda.