A recent video of an Airtel employee in Mumbai has gone viral, sparking controversy on social media. The video shows the employee refusing to interact with a customer in Marathi, saying “Why should I speak in Marathi? Where is it written to speak Marathi in Maharashtra? You should speak to me properly.” The customer claimed that the employee was refusing to address his grievances and had screamed at him.
The incident has been widely condemned on social media, with many calling for the employee to be taken to task. BJP MLC Chitra Wagh slammed the employee, saying that the “arrogance and rudeness” displayed was unacceptable and that Airtel should apologize to all Marathi speakers. She also suggested that all Airtel employees and managers in Maharashtra should be proficient in Marathi and that recruitment should prioritize individuals fluent in the language.
The incident has highlighted the tensions that can arise when employees are not aware of the cultural norms and language of the region they are serving. Marathi is the official language of Maharashtra, where Airtel has a large customer base. The employee’s refusal to speak in Marathi has been seen as a display of disrespect to the language and the state.
Airtel has not yet issued an official reaction on the incident, but the company is under pressure to take action against the employee involved. The incident has also sparked a wider debate about the importance of language skills and cultural sensitivity in the workplace.