Marathi Ignored, Sparks Fly: Mumbai Woman Confronts Cop Over Language Snub
Marathi Ignored, Sparks Fly: Mumbai Woman Confronts Cop Over Language Snub
Mumbai, April 4: A heated exchange took place in Mumbai on Wednesday when a traffic police constable allegedly refused to make public announcements in Marathi, leading to a debate over the enforcement of state language guidelines for government employees.
The incident occurred in Goregaon and involved Anupriya Desai, a local resident, whose car was towed while she was out running errands. When she approached the traffic police towing vehicle, Desai noticed that Constable P. N. Sabale was making announcements in Hindi. Concerned, she questioned why the announcements were not being made in Marathi, the official language of Maharashtra.
According to Desai, the officer dismissed her concerns, stating that there was “no rule” requiring announcements to be made in Marathi. “I kept asking why he wasn’t using Marathi, especially when it’s the state’s official language and government employees are expected to use it. But he simply said there’s no such rule,” Desai said.
She claimed that after her repeated questioning, Constable Sabale adjusted the speaker settings and appeared to respond to her concern. Desai recorded the entire interaction on video.
The incident has raised important questions about the use of Marathi by public servants and whether state language policies are being properly followed. As per official guidelines, government employees in Maharashtra are expected to use Marathi in communication and public dealings.
The video recorded by Desai has since circulated on social media, with many users expressing support for her and calling for stricter implementation of Marathi language rules in public services. Meanwhile, officials have yet to issue a formal response regarding the officer’s conduct or any possible action.
The incident has once again highlighted ongoing concerns about language use in Maharashtra and the need to ensure compliance with linguistic policies in public administration.
