Airtel Mumbai: Employee Refuses To Speak Marathi, Sparks Controversy
Airtel Mumbai: Employee Refuses To Speak Marathi, Sparks Controversy
Mumbai: A video from an Airtel gallery in Charkop, Mumbai, has gone viral, showing a young employee refusing to speak in Marathi despite a customer’s insistence. The woman argued that speaking Marathi was not necessary, questioning, “Why should I speak in Marathi? Where is it written?”
The incident has intensified the ongoing debate over the importance of the Marathi language in Maharashtra. In the video, the employee is seen arguing with a Marathi-speaking customer, asserting that people in India can speak any language of their choice.
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
Thackeray Group Reacts
Following the incident, Akhil Chitre, a leader from the Thackeray faction, visited the Airtel gallery and questioned whether the company had an issue hiring Marathi-speaking employees. He warned that if Airtel does not include Marathi in its operations, its galleries may face backlash in Mumbai.
हवेत असलेल्या एअरटेलची टेल खेचण्यासाठी आम्ही @ShivSenaUBT_ शिवसैनिक आज एअरटेल मुंबई मुख्य कार्यालयात गेलो होता. मुंबईतील एअरटेल च्या कामकाजात मराठी नाही तर मुंबईत एअरटेलची गॅलेरी नाही. pic.twitter.com/B1IyHqfRk4
— Akhil Chitre अखिल चित्रे (@akhil1485) March 11, 2025
Chitre emphasized that 80% of Airtel employees in Maharashtra should be Marathi speakers, urging the company to take immediate action against employees who refuse to use the local language. He further stated that if Airtel fails to address the issue, the party would take necessary steps to ensure Marathi receives its due respect.
