Bengaluru/IBNS: The Karnataka government Wednesday paused a bill directing private firms in the state to reserve jobs for Kannadigas.

The bill, cleared Monday, requires firms in India's IT capital to prioritise local hires for 70 per cent of non-management roles and 50 per cent of management-level jobs.

"The bill intended to implement reservation for Kannadigas in private sector institutions, industries and enterprises is still in the preparation stage. A final decision will be taken after comprehensive discussion in the next cabinet meeting," Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has posted on X.

The quota announcement was first made by the Chief Minister Tuesday evening.

The Chief Minister said his "pro-Kannada government" would ensure all "Kannadigas (get) an opportunity to lead a comfortable life in the motherland... and avoid being deprived of jobs in the land of Kannada".

However, his X post said the bill mandated 100 percent reservation at certain levels.

Massive fury and outrage followed Siddaramaiah's post, with business leaders like Biocon's Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw and the opposition, led by the BJP, targeting the Congress government.

Meanwhile, the Karnataka Chief Minister's post was deleted earlier in he afternoon after clarification from Labour Minister Santosh Lad.

"At management level, it has been decided to provide reservation of 50 per cent. At the non-management level, it has been decided to provide work to 70 per cent..." he said.

He also said that if companies were unable to hire suitable skilled candidates from this restricted pool, they could then look at hiring people from outside the state.