Pune: An incident at Airtel’s Wakdewadi office in Pune sparked controversy after the manager allegedly threatened to terminate employees for speaking Marathi in the workplace. The matter escalated when members of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) intervened, demanding justice for the affected employees.

The incident, as reported by Saam TV, involved the manager allegedly withholding salaries of Marathi employees for three months. Additionally, these employees were reportedly denied leave for Hindu festivals. The manager also allegedly made derogatory remarks, stating, “Bring any political party workers; I will not speak Marathi. If anyone speaks Marathi here, they will be fired.”

Unable to endure the mistreatment, the employees approached MNS workers for support. Acting promptly, the MNS members confronted the manager at Airtel’s Wakdewadi office. They issued a stern warning, declaring that if Marathi employees continued to face harassment, Airtel offices in Swargate, Wakdewadi, and Kharadi would face repercussions.

Following the intervention, the manager, Shahbaz Ahmed, released the pending salaries and apologized to the employees and MNS workers for his actions.

The incident highlights the sensitivity surrounding language and cultural identity in workplaces and underscores the importance of respecting regional diversity.