Language Disputes in Maharashtra Highlight Tensions Over Marathi and Hindi Use

Viral videos from Pune and Mumbai reignite debates on language preferences, cultural respect, and workplace policies in Maharashtra.

A viral video from Pune shows a man at a D-Mart store insisting on speaking Hindi after being asked to converse in Marathi, leading to a heated exchange.
In a separate incident in Mumbai, an Airtel employee faced backlash for refusing to address a customer in Marathi, questioning the necessity of speaking the language in Maharashtra.
The Maharashtra government has mandated the use of Marathi in government and semi-government offices, with penalties for non-compliance.
BJP MLC Chitra Wagh criticized the Airtel employee's behavior and called for prioritizing Marathi proficiency in recruitment for workplaces in the state.
These incidents follow previous controversies involving language use, including allegations against an Airtel office in Pune for enforcing Hindi over Marathi among employees.