What started as a commentary on Bengaluru’s rain-battered infrastructure quickly escalated into a heated ideological face-off. Zoho co-founder Sridhar Vembu’s recent remarks about Bengaluru’s urban chaos and his suggestion that the city is buckling under the weight of unchecked rural migration have triggered sharp criticism — and Bengaluru's tech community isn’t taking it lightly.
As parts of India’s IT capital went underwater this week, Vembu took to X (formerly Twitter) to lament that the city “aspires to join the first world,” but struggles with the “harsh reality of a vast population in poverty” whose votes are influenced by cash transfer schemes. He further argued that rural joblessness is driving waves of migration into the city, overwhelming its already creaking infrastructure. In a particularly contentious line, Vembu suggested that Bengaluru’s quality of life hinges on “how many people we succeed in not sending to Bengaluru from rural India.”
‘A Dangerous Gandhian Fantasy’ — The Strong Rebuttal
Ritesh Banglani, Bengaluru-based investor and co-founder of Stellaris Venture Partners, didn’t mince words in his rebuttal. “Can’t disagree more,” he fired back in his own Twitter post, taking aim at both the logic and tone of Vembu’s statement.
Banglani countered that Bengaluru is far from being “overcrowded,” pointing out that it doesn't even rank among the top 20 cities in Asia in terms of population or density. The city, he argued, has no geographical barriers preventing sustainable expansion — its crisis lies elsewhere.
He also called Vembu’s vision of restricting rural-to-urban migration a “dangerous Gandhian fantasy,” warning that economic growth and urbanization are inseparable in any modern economy. “If we have to grow, we need to wean our people off the land and into cities,” he wrote.
A Fight Over Narratives
The debate took a more pointed turn when Banglani accused Vembu’s language of carrying a hidden message. “Anyone who understands the politics of Bangalore knows ‘overcrowded’ is a dog-whistle for ‘overcrowded with outsiders,’” he wrote, suggesting that such framing unfairly blames migrant populations — often minorities with little political representation — instead of holding city governance accountable.
This, he added, feeds into a “nativist narrative” that tech leaders should be actively pushing back against, not perpetuating.
A City at Crossroads: Who Gets to Shape Bengaluru’s Future?
At the heart of the debate is a larger question: Who is responsible for Bengaluru’s faltering infrastructure — the migrants chasing opportunity, or the policymakers failing to prepare for inevitable urban expansion?
Sridhar Vembu, whose own ventures are deeply rooted in rural development and decentralization, appears to frame urban woes as a symptom of policy failure at the grassroots level. But critics argue that framing migrants as the problem not only diverts attention from governance failures but risks entrenching divisions in a city known for its cosmopolitan character.
As Bengaluru continues to grapple with flooding, traffic snarls, and civic discontent, this very public disagreement among India’s tech elite offers more than just soundbites. It reveals the ideological crossroads at which the country stands — one between embracing urbanization as a force for progress, and retreating into protectionist nostalgia.
For the millions who call Bengaluru home, the resolution of this debate isn’t just academic. It could shape the city’s next chapter.
As parts of India’s IT capital went underwater this week, Vembu took to X (formerly Twitter) to lament that the city “aspires to join the first world,” but struggles with the “harsh reality of a vast population in poverty” whose votes are influenced by cash transfer schemes. He further argued that rural joblessness is driving waves of migration into the city, overwhelming its already creaking infrastructure. In a particularly contentious line, Vembu suggested that Bengaluru’s quality of life hinges on “how many people we succeed in not sending to Bengaluru from rural India.”
Bengaluru aspires to join the first world but we have the harsh reality of a vast population in poverty whose vote depends on cash transfer schemes, even as rural joblessness leads to unchecked migration to Bengaluru.
— Sridhar Vembu (@svembu) May 20, 2025
This is not a rant against politicians. My rural life has… https://t.co/SQOQBKu8vS
‘A Dangerous Gandhian Fantasy’ — The Strong Rebuttal
Ritesh Banglani, Bengaluru-based investor and co-founder of Stellaris Venture Partners, didn’t mince words in his rebuttal. “Can’t disagree more,” he fired back in his own Twitter post, taking aim at both the logic and tone of Vembu’s statement.
Banglani countered that Bengaluru is far from being “overcrowded,” pointing out that it doesn't even rank among the top 20 cities in Asia in terms of population or density. The city, he argued, has no geographical barriers preventing sustainable expansion — its crisis lies elsewhere.
He also called Vembu’s vision of restricting rural-to-urban migration a “dangerous Gandhian fantasy,” warning that economic growth and urbanization are inseparable in any modern economy. “If we have to grow, we need to wean our people off the land and into cities,” he wrote.
Can't disagree more.
— Ritesh Banglani (@banglani) May 21, 2025
1. Bangalore is not "overcrowded". It isn't in the top 20 cities in Asia by either population or population density. It does not have any geographical barriers to growth.
2. As an economy develops, it needs to urbanize. There are no developed economies that… https://t.co/76SzBMJS3K
A Fight Over Narratives
The debate took a more pointed turn when Banglani accused Vembu’s language of carrying a hidden message. “Anyone who understands the politics of Bangalore knows ‘overcrowded’ is a dog-whistle for ‘overcrowded with outsiders,’” he wrote, suggesting that such framing unfairly blames migrant populations — often minorities with little political representation — instead of holding city governance accountable.
This, he added, feeds into a “nativist narrative” that tech leaders should be actively pushing back against, not perpetuating.
A City at Crossroads: Who Gets to Shape Bengaluru’s Future?
At the heart of the debate is a larger question: Who is responsible for Bengaluru’s faltering infrastructure — the migrants chasing opportunity, or the policymakers failing to prepare for inevitable urban expansion?
Sridhar Vembu, whose own ventures are deeply rooted in rural development and decentralization, appears to frame urban woes as a symptom of policy failure at the grassroots level. But critics argue that framing migrants as the problem not only diverts attention from governance failures but risks entrenching divisions in a city known for its cosmopolitan character.
As Bengaluru continues to grapple with flooding, traffic snarls, and civic discontent, this very public disagreement among India’s tech elite offers more than just soundbites. It reveals the ideological crossroads at which the country stands — one between embracing urbanization as a force for progress, and retreating into protectionist nostalgia.
For the millions who call Bengaluru home, the resolution of this debate isn’t just academic. It could shape the city’s next chapter.
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