Mumbai: A dispute over the use of Marathi during a ticket inspection on an air-conditioned suburban train near Andheri railway station on Saturday sparked protests and renewed debate over linguistic rights in Maharashtra.According to railway sources and videos circulating on social media, the incident began when a passenger allegedly insisted on communicating in Marathi with a ticket checker (TC). The TC was reportedly unable to speak the language fluently, leading to an argument. Another railway employee, who could converse in Marathi, later intervened, but the exchange escalated.The passenger was subsequently taken to the Railway Protection Force (RPF) office at Andheri station.A railway official said, “The matter is being investigated.”The incident drew criticism from the Marathi Ekikaran Samiti, which fights for the right to justice of Marathi people. Its members rushed to Andheri RPF and demanded action against railway employees and questioned whether demanding service in Marathi could be treated as interference in official duties. Seeking an apology from railways, it tweeted: “We will not tolerate the railway’s anti-Marathi policy… passenger was detained illegally for 2 hours for demanding Marathi...” Railway officials declined to comment.The incident reignited discussions on the use of Marathi in public services across the state.
