“Speak Marathi or Leave”: Heated Language Clash Breaks Out in Mumbai Local Train
"Speak Marathi or Leave": Heated Language Clash Breaks Out in Mumbai Local Train
A routine commute in a Mumbai local train turned tense on Friday evening when a dispute over seating spiraled into a heated language-based altercation. The incident occurred in the crowded ladies’ coach of a Central Line train, where a group of women got into an argument that quickly escalated beyond just a seat.
What began as a minor disagreement soon evolved into a Marathi vs Hindi confrontation, with one woman aggressively telling others, “If you want to live in Mumbai, speak Marathi, or else get out.” A video of the incident, now widely circulated on social media, shows six to seven women involved in the argument, with the situation growing more intense as more passengers joined the verbal exchange. Due to the use of strong language, the video has been muted in many reposts.
मुंबई में मराठी बनाम हिंदी का मुद्दा अब लोकल ट्रेनों तक पहुंच गया है. सेंट्रल लाइन की एक लोकल ट्रेन में मराठी और हिंदी को लेकर महिलाओं के बीच जबरदस्त बहस हो गई. घटना का वीडियो सोशल मीडिया पर वायरल.#Mumbai | #LocalTrain pic.twitter.com/XwuqL0JnUX
— NDTV India (@ndtvindia) July 20, 2025
Railway authorities have confirmed the incident took place but stated that no official complaint has been lodged so far.
This clash adds to the ongoing tension around language identity in Maharashtra. In recent weeks, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has drawn criticism for allegedly targeting individuals not using Marathi in public spaces.
In a separate incident earlier this week, MNS workers allegedly assaulted a shopkeeper in Vikhroli over a WhatsApp status they found offensive to the Marathi community. The man was reportedly forced to apologize publicly while being physically attacked.
These incidents reflect growing concerns over rising language-based intolerance in the state.
