“Speak Marathi or get out of Mumbai”: Seat dispute in local train sparks language row, watch

What started as a routine commute in Mumbai’s bustling local trains turned into a fiery confrontation that has now gone viral. A heated argument in the ladies’ compartment over a seat spiralled into a full-blown language debate, with a group of women allegedly telling a fellow passenger, “Speak Marathi or get out of Mumbai.” The incident, caught on camera, comes amid growing linguistic tensions in Maharashtra, fuelling outrage and sparking fresh debates on social media.

“Speak Marathi or Leave Mumbai”

In a video of the incident that has since gone viral, one woman is heard saying, “If you want to stay in our Mumbai, speak Marathi; otherwise, get out.” The exchange, captured by another commuter, shows tempers flaring as the language issue overshadowed the original dispute.

Part of a Larger Pattern?

The viral video comes amid a spate of language-related controversies in Maharashtra. In recent weeks, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) workers have been seen confronting shopkeepers, auto drivers, and even bank employees for not conversing in Marathi.

#FLASH: Marathi vs Hindi row reaches Mumbai local trains.

A fight broke out among women in the ladies coach on Friday evening over speaking Marathi.

Viral video shows a woman saying: “If you want to live in Mumbai, speak Marathi — or get out!”

Incident happened in a Central… pic.twitter.com/YeaZ5Marnk

— The New Indian (@TheNewIndian_in) July 20, 2025

In one widely shared video, a medical shop employee was beaten and forced to publicly apologise over an allegedly disrespectful WhatsApp status. In another incident, a Rajasthani shopkeeper in Vikroli was assaulted for a post deemed insulting to Marathi-speaking people.

As linguistic fault lines deepen in Maharashtra, the Mumbai local train incident underscores how everyday disputes can rapidly escalate into divisive debates over identity and belonging in a city famed for its diversity.