A video has surfaced showing a couple in Mumbai berating a pizza delivery agent for not speaking Marathi and refusing to pay for their order. The incident, recorded by the delivery agent, has quickly gone viral, sparking outrage and reigniting discussions about linguistic chauvinism in the city.
In the video, the couple can be heard demanding that the delivery agent speak to them in Marathi, the state's official language. When the agent is unable to do so, they refuse to pay for the pizza, claiming that they will only communicate in Marathi. The agent appears to be trying to explain his difficulty, but the couple is unrelenting in their demands.
The incident has drawn condemnation from various quarters, with many criticizing the couple's behavior as being unreasonable and discriminatory. Some have pointed out that while it is important to promote and preserve regional languages, it is unfair to expect everyone to be fluent in Marathi, especially in a cosmopolitan city like Mumbai. Others have expressed concern over the increasing incidents of linguistic intolerance and the need for greater sensitivity and understanding.
This is not the first time that such an incident has occurred in Mumbai. The city has a long history of linguistic diversity, but also occasional tensions between different language communities. In the past, there have been instances of people being harassed or discriminated against for not speaking Marathi. Such incidents raise questions about inclusivity and respect for linguistic diversity in the metropolis.
As of now, there has been no official response from Domino's, the pizza chain for which the delivery agent works, or from the Mumbai Police. It remains to be seen whether any action will be taken against the couple for their behavior. However, the incident serves as a reminder of the challenges of maintaining harmony in a diverse society and the importance of promoting tolerance and understanding.