Mumbai: A viral video of an Airtel employee in Mumbai refusing to speak Marathi with a customer has triggered a massive controversy, drawing sharp criticism from political leaders and the public.
In the video, the employee is heard telling the customer, “Why should I speak in Marathi? Where is it written that Marathi must be spoken in Maharashtra? Marathi is not important to me. We live in Hindustan, and anyone can use any language.”
एअरटेल प्रशासनाने नोंद घेऊन कर्मचाऱ्यांना मराठी भाषेचं महत्त्व समजावून सांगावं. महाराष्ट्रात एअरटेल चे असंख्य मराठी ग्राहक आहेत ते कायम ठेवायचे असतील तर योग्य पाउलं उचला नाहीतर मुंबईत एअरटेल ची गॅलरी दिसणार नाही. इतर भाषेचा विरोध नाही पण मराठी भाषिक ८०% कर्मचारी असायलाच हवे.… pic.twitter.com/xRBO2nSzqh
— Akhil Chitre अखिल चित्रे (@akhil1485) March 11, 2025
When the customer accused her of ignoring his complaints, she allegedly responded aggressively, saying, “Have you bought Maharashtra? Do you own it? Are you going to decide where I can work? If you continue recording, I will call the police.”
The incident has sparked widespread backlash, with BJP MLC Chitra Wagh slamming Airtel and demanding an apology. “The arrogance and rudeness in the Airtel gallery have come to light. Disrespect for Maharashtra and the Marathi language will not be tolerated. Airtel must apologize to all Marathi speakers on behalf of this employee,” she wrote on X.
Wagh further demanded that all Airtel employees in Maharashtra must be proficient in Marathi and that recruitment should prioritize Marathi-speaking individuals. “If one resides in Maharashtra, they must know Marathi. If not, they should at least be willing to learn and respect it,” she stated.
The controversy follows a recent debate on language politics in Maharashtra, after RSS leader Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi remarked that Mumbai “does not have one language”, citing that different areas predominantly speak Gujarati, Marathi, or Hindi. However, CM Devendra Fadnavis reaffirmed in the state assembly that Marathi is the language of Maharashtra and Mumbai, and those living here should learn it.
