'Speak Marathi or get out': Women fight as seat issue turns into language row in Mumbai local

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A fight that started over a seat in a crowded women's coach in a local train in Mumbai quickly turned into a language row after one woman told the other to either speak in Marathi or "get out".

Media reports said that the incident took place on Friday on a train that was running on the Central line. Reportedly, a video of the incident surfaced on social media, which showed about 6-7 women arguing over a seat, which is something that happens very regularly in Mumbai local.

One woman criticised another for not speaking in Marathi. "If you want to stay in our Mumbai, speak Marathi, otherwise get out," she said. Followig this, other women also joined the debate.

Officials said that the Railway Protection Force and the Government Railway Police are currently investigating the incident. This incident has come in the backdrop of the ongoing language row in Maharashtra. Recently, after an incident involving the targeting and confrontation of people over speaking Marathi, MNS workers are now facing backlash.

A few days ago, a shopkeeper in Mumbai's Vikhroli was assaulted by MNS workers over a WhatsApp status that felt offensive to the Marathi-speaking community. The video of the incident that surfaced online showed the shopkeeper being forced to apologise publicly while being threatened and physically attacked.

Meanwhile, on July 1, MNS workers in Thane slapped a street food vendor for refusing to converse in Marathi. In yet another incident, a migrant auto-rickshaw driver in Maharashtra's Palghar was assaulted in full public view by MNS and Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) supporters.