Language Row at Navi Mumbai Civic Office: Woman Asked to Speak in Marathi, Bystander Defends Her in Viral Video
Language Row at Navi Mumbai Civic Office: Woman Asked to Speak in Marathi, Bystander Defends Her in Viral Video
In another incident highlighting the ongoing tensions surrounding language in Maharashtra, a Muslim woman visiting the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) office to enquire about birth certificates was allegedly asked by a civic staff member to communicate only in Marathi. The situation escalated quickly, but a bystander intervened, standing up for the woman’s right to speak in the language of her choice — and the moment was caught on camera, sparking outrage on social media.
According to the video, the woman, dressed in a burqa, was at the birth and death registration counter when the confrontation occurred. A man accompanying her challenged the official’s insistence on using Marathi, asking whether there was any official rule mandating such a requirement.
नवी मुंबई म्युनिसिपल कॉरपोरेशन (NMMC) के कार्यालय में एक मुस्लिम महिला को अधिकारी द्वारा मराठी में बोलने के लिए कहा गया, जिससे विवाद खड़ा हो गया। वहां मौजूद एक मुस्लिम व्यक्ति ने तुरंत हस्तक्षेप किया और अधिकारी को करारा जवाब देकर सबक सिखाया।#Mumbai #Languages pic.twitter.com/LBMCkSTpVm
— Mohd. Shahzad (@mshahzad_pbh) August 2, 2025
“Are you here to serve the public or push a political agenda?” the man questioned, pointing toward a board displayed at the counter, which was written in English. “If Marathi is mandatory, then why is the signage in English?” he asked, demanding clarity.
He further accused the official of deliberately targeting the woman based on her appearance, saying, “Seeing a woman in a burqa, you intentionally singled her out and forced her to speak Marathi.”
As tensions rose, another civic staffer was seen attempting to defuse the situation by apologizing and joining hands in front of the woman, urging calm.
The incident, which lasted only a few seconds on camera but has resonated widely, comes amid a growing number of similar cases in the state where language has become a flashpoint. Just last month, an autorickshaw driver in Palghar was assaulted over alleged anti-Marathi comments. Videos of political workers from Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) confronting or attacking individuals for not speaking Marathi have also recently surfaced, further fueling the debate.
While Maharashtra is proud of its linguistic identity, critics argue that enforcing Marathi in civic interactions — especially through confrontation — is discriminatory and unconstitutional. The heated exchange at the NMMC office is being viewed by many as another example of the increasingly politicized use of language in government settings.
As the video continues to circulate widely on platforms like X (formerly Twitter), it reignites questions about linguistic rights, civic responsibility, and the fine line between regional pride and coercion.
