Mumbai:
BJP MLC Chitra Wagh on Wednesday called Maharashtra to promote local language use, a statement that comes after a video of a female employee of a major telecom company, refusing to interact with a customer in Marathi.
Ms. Wagh, who is the head of the women’s wing of Maharashtra BJP, stressed the importance of Marathi language, saying, “If someone lives in Maharashtra, they should know Marathi. If they do not, they should at least be ready to learn and respect the language”.
Referring to the viral video, she said that a female employee is an example of “ego and rudeness in Airtel Gallery” and has demanded immediate action against her.
“In addition, moving forward, every manager and employee in your galleries should be efficient in Marathi, and recruitment should prioritize fluent individuals in the language,” he said in his message to the telecom company.
There was no immediate official reaction from the company, but the authorities stated it as an unfortunate incident and said that necessary measures have been taken.
The controversial video shot by an unknown person shows that a local Airtel Gallery in Mumbai did not resolve its complaint and resort to unpleasant behavior.
In the video, the employee allegedly asked, “Why should I talk in Marathi? Where is it written to speak Marathi in Maharashtra? You should talk properly.” As soon as senior employees arrived at the outlet, the woman was seen saying, “Marathi is not important for me. We live in India and anyone can use any language.
“Why should I speak in Marathi? Have you bought, or you are the owners of Maharashtra? Are you going to tell me where to work and not to work? Recording is not allowed, or I will call the police.” The customer replied, “On the one hand, you are not addressing my problems, and on the other, you are not even talking to me properly.” He alleged that the staff members shouted at him and neglected him to address his complaints.
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