Pune: MNS Workers Assault Airtel Manager Over Language Bias and Pending Salaries for Marathi Employees

Wakdewadi, 4th January 2025: The ongoing controversy over the Marathi language in Maharashtra has taken a new turn, with tensions now spilling into Pune. After a similar dispute in Thane two days ago, reports have emerged of a confrontation at Airtel’s Wakdewadi office, where a team leader allegedly enforced a “Hindi-only” rule.

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) workers resorted to violence in response to the alleged injustice against Marathi-speaking employees.

Shahbaz Ahmed, a team leader at Airtel Wakdewadi, is accused of threatening employees by stating that they must speak in Hindi on the office floor or risk losing their jobs. Ahmed allegedly warned that speaking in Marathi would not be tolerated and even denied employees leave on Hindu festivals. Furthermore, there are claims that Marathi employees have not received their salaries for the past three months.

MNS workers confronted Ahmed and gave him what they termed a “lesson in MNS style.” They demanded that the pending salaries of Marathi employees be cleared by Monday, warning that failure to comply would result in the demolition of three Airtel offices located in Swargate, Wakdewadi, and Kharadi.

एअरटेल मध्ये मराठी कर्मचाऱ्यांवर अन्याय परप्रांतीय टीम लीडरला मनसेने चोपले

This incident follows a series of events highlighting rising tensions over language issues in the state. In Thane, a Marathi family was reportedly assaulted by an officer over a language-related dispute. Similarly, in Mumbra, a Marathi youth was allegedly forced to apologize for asserting his right to use his mother tongue.

Airtel has yet to issue an official statement regarding the allegations or the incident.