A video capturing a fiery argument between a non-Kannadiga man and an auto driver in Bengaluru has gone viral, reigniting debate over language sensitivity in Karnataka’s capital. The exact circumstances leading to the confrontation remain unclear.

In the clip, the man is seen angrily insisting, “Speak in Hindi if you want to stay in Bengaluru,” while his friends try to defuse the situation. The auto driver, visibly agitated, replies firmly, “You’ve come to Bengaluru — speak in Kannada. I won’t speak in Hindi.”

The video, posted on X (formerly Twitter), quickly drew sharp reactions. Many users slammed the man’s comment as linguistically insensitive and arrogant. One post read, “This isn’t about pro-Kannada hooliganism — it’s basic respect. You come here and demand others speak your language?”

Another user questioned why so many outsiders resist learning Kannada, even when most locals are bilingual: “Kannadigas understand Hindi. Why can’t you make an effort in return?”

The controversy has once again spotlighted Bengaluru’s linguistic tensions — a city where diverse Indian communities converge, yet local language pride runs deep. Several comments also pointed out a widespread misconception: “There’s no national language in India. Hindi is not mandatory.”

Posts emphasized that language should be a tool for inclusion, not imposition. “No one asks Tamil or Bengali speakers to dominate others. Why this entitlement with Hindi?” asked one user.