Linguistic Dispute Leads to Supermarket Scuffle in Mumbai

In Mumbai, a supermarket employee was allegedly slapped by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena workers for refusing to speak in Marathi. The incident, captured on video, occurred in an Andheri store. Following the altercation, the employee apologized, showcasing ongoing language tensions in the region.

A supermarket employee in Mumbai's Andheri neighborhood found himself at the center of a linguistic controversy after refusing to converse in Marathi, instead opting for Hindi. This decision allegedly led to an altercation with workers from the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), a regional political party.

The incident unfolded at a D-Mart store, where the employee's comments were recorded and shared on social media. In the video, he is heard asserting his preference for speaking in Hindi, stating, "I will not speak in Marathi. Do what you want to do." This stance drew the ire of MNS workers who visited the store thereafter.

Led by Sandesh Desai, the party's Versova unit president, the MNS group allegedly confronted and slapped the employee. Subsequent to the incident, the store staffer expressed regret for his actions, highlighting the enduring language tensions within Maharashtra.

(With inputs from agencies.)