The Chief Executive Officer of digital payment operator PhonePe, Sameer Nigam, offered an “unconditional apology” on Sunday following calls to uninstall PhonePe over his views on the new Karnataka job quota bill.

“I would first and foremost like to clarify that it was NEVER my intention to insult Karnataka and its people. If my comments hurt anyone’s sentiments in such a way, I am truly sorry and would like to offer you an unconditional apology,” Sameer Nigam said in a statement.

The move assumes significance as PhonePe drew criticism and boycott calls on social media after Nigam had slammed the now-suspended Karnataka government’s quota-for-jobs bill, which had originally proposed reservation for locals in the private sector.

Nigam had criticised the Karnataka State Employment of Local Candidates in the Industries, Factories and Other Establishments Bill, 2024 and appeared to oppose it.

He had questioned if his children deserve jobs in their ‘home city’ while criticising the bill.

“I am 46 years old. Never lived in a state for 15+ yrs. 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! My kids dont deserve jobs in their home city? Shame,” Nigam had posted on X recently.

His post had unleashed massive trolling, as social media users in Karnataka lashed out at Nigam and called for a boycott of PhonePe.

On Sunday, Nigam said that he formed his opinion from a corporate perspective where the focus lies on hiring the best available talent in India based on their skills to compete on a global stage. He also thanked the people of Karnataka for their contribution in building the startup ecosystem that Bengaluru currently has.

“Bengaluru’s reputation as the “Silicon valley of India” is truly well-deserved. 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. Without such an inclusive ecosystem and progressive policies, Bengaluru would not have become a global technology superpower,” he said.

He also said that he did not want to insult the people of Karnataka.

“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,” Nigam said.

“Companies must be able to employ the very best talent available in India purely based on their technology skills and proficiency in fields,” he said. “As a nation, that is the only way we can build world-class companies that can compete in the global village that we live in today,” said Nigam.

The Karnataka State Employment of Local Candidates in the Industries, Factories and Other Establishments Bill, 2024 had highlighted that 50 per cent of the candidates working in any factory or industry in a management category and 70 per cent in the non-management category should come from the State of Karnataka.

“Any industry, factory or other establishments shall appoint fifty per cent of local candidates in management categories and seventy per cent in non-management categories,” according to the bill.

The bill also requires candidates who did not study Kannada in secondary school to pass a Kannada language proficiency test. The nodal agency, empowered by the State of Karnataka, can request any records or documents about the candidate.