Following the controversy surrounding the Kannadigas Reservation Bill, which was paused due to public backlash, a woman from Punjab shared her unsettling experience dealing with auto drivers in Bengaluru. She recounted how an auto driver allegedly demanded higher fares simply because she was not a Kannadiga.

Under the handle Shaani Naani, she posted on X, “I spent 1.5 years working in Bangalore. Coming from Punjab, I wore my chooda for a year, honoring my tradition. It was obvious I was from North India.”

She detailed the discrimination she faced, particularly with auto drivers. “It was incredibly distressing commuting between my flat and office. Local auto drivers had the audacity to question why I was in Bangalore instead of the North, inquire about my Kannada proficiency, comment on anything other than the weather, and even demanded extra money because I was newly married. Often, they pretended not to understand when I spoke in Hindi or English. My interactions with the local crowd were very unpleasant.”

Numerous comments under her post echoed similar grievances about auto drivers in Bengaluru. For instance, Hardeep Singh shared, “I had a terrible experience with an auto driver late at night in March. He demanded extra money, and when we decided to walk instead, he followed us with his friends. We managed to escape somehow.”

However, not everyone agreed with her characterization of Bengaluru as unfriendly. A dissenting voice commented, “I too am from North India and have been living in Bangalore for 3 years. I have never faced such issues. I feel safe here, haven’t experienced harassment or theft. Maybe your experience differs, but locals haven’t treated me as you’ve described.”

The incident has sparked a debate online about the treatment of non-Kannadigas in Bengaluru, highlighting varying perspectives on the city’s inclusiveness and safety for outsiders.