The controversy over Marathi vs Hindi language in Maharashtra has now reached the local trains of Mumbai. Recently, a video of Mumbai Local has gone viral on social media, in which the debate started between women, it turned into a language dispute. In the video, a woman can be heard saying, ‘If you want to live in Mumbai, then speak Marathi, otherwise go out!’
The incident occurred on Friday evening in a bogie with a wet woman on the Central Line. A small clash started over the seat sharing, but soon it took the form of hot debate about the language. As soon as one woman talked about speaking Marathi, the other women also joined the debate, which further increased the dispute.
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Railway officials have confirmed the incident that it took place in the women’s compartment of a local train of Central Railway. However, no party has yet filed a formal complaint with the authorities.
This fresh wrangling is another example of the ongoing language debate in Maharashtra. In recent times, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) workers have faced a lot of criticisms for targeting Marathi who did not speak Marathi and attack them.
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Earlier this week, a shopkeeper was attacked by MNS workers in Vikhroli, Mumbai, in a separate incident. It was alleged that the shopkeeper had set up a WhatsApp status which was considered derogatory for the Marathi community. The shopkeeper was not only forced to publicly apologize, but was also assaulted.
Another incident came to light in Thane, where MNS workers slapped a street food seller just because he refused to speak Marathi. In addition, a migrant auto-rickshaw driver was attacked by MNS and Shiv Sena (UBT) supporters in Palghar district for not speaking Marathi.