A YouTuber was allegedly threatened by a co-passenger on an Air India flight for not talking Marathi, an incident that has ignited a broad debate over linguistic intolerance and regional chauvinism in Maharashtra.
A video shared by content material creator Mahi Khan, popularly recognized on-line as MahiNergy, has gone viral after he posted footage of a girl co-passenger allegedly threatening him on an Air India flight for not talking Marathi.
The incident reportedly occurred on Air India flight AI676 from Kolkata to Mumbai, the place Khan claimed {that a} girl passenger insisted he communicate Marathi as a result of he was travelling to Mumbai.
Within the video, which has amassed greater than 95,000 likes and over 9,000 feedback inside 24 hours, Khan could be heard asking the girl, “You might be telling me that I would like to talk in Marathi?” to which she replies, “Sure, please try this.”
The lady, who declined to establish herself, additional mentioned, “You’re going to Mumbai, you need to know Marathi.” In response, Khan calmly said, “No, I don’t communicate Marathi.”
Because the argument intensified, Khan mentioned he sought assist from the cabin crew. In response to him, in entrance of the crew, the girl threatened him, saying, “Get down at Mumbai, I’ll present you what badtameezi (misbehaviour) is.”
‘Communicate Marathi or depart’
In his Instagram put up, Khan wrote, “Communicate Marathi or depart Mumbai. That’s what this woman informed me on my Air India flight AI676 right this moment, earlier than threatening me for saying ‘I don’t perceive Marathi’.”
He additionally known as on Air India to take strict motion, tagging the airline in his put up and including, “These individuals ought to be banned. No passenger ought to really feel unsafe or humiliated for merely talking a unique language.”
Netizens specific ire
The video quickly sparked outrage on social media after viewers seen the girl sporting a shirt bearing the Hyundai brand. Many customers tagged the automaker and demanded accountability from the corporate, though it stays unclear whether or not the girl is related to Hyundai.
One consumer wrote, “@hyundaiindia we want a public apology. This can be a query of your model integrity.” One other remark learn, “@hyundaiindia you higher maintain this woman accountable for this shameful act and situation an apology.”
A number of customers from Maharashtra condemned the girl’s behaviour, saying it misrepresented their tradition. One particular person commented, “We’re Maharashtrian and this isn’t our tradition. It’s completely mistaken to power somebody to talk Marathi.”
Others urged Air India to take quick motion towards the girl, with one consumer writing, “@airindia, is that this how passengers are handled in your flights?”
Thus far, neither Air India nor Hyundai has issued an official assertion relating to the incident.
The viral video has reignited discussions on linguistic intolerance and regional chauvinism in Maharashtra, echoing earlier controversies. In July, a dispute in a Mumbai native practice over a seat escalated right into a language row, when a girl informed one other passenger to “be taught Marathi or get out.”
Earlier this 12 months, one other case drew consideration when an autorickshaw driver was allegedly overwhelmed by Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS staff for refusing to talk Marathi, additional fuelling issues over rising linguistic hostility within the state.