In a shocking incident, a train ticket examiner (TTE) allegedly forced a Marathi-speaking couple write an apology letter after they asked him to speak in Marathi.
The incident came to light after a photograph of the apology letter surfaced on social media, and passengers staged a protest.
The Western Railway has now suspended the TTE Rakesh Mourya and ordered an inquiry into the incident.
The action came after a photograph of the apology letter surfaced on social media, and passengers staged a protest.
Talking to PTI, Vineet Abhishek, chief public relations officer of Western Railway, said an inquiry is ordered into the incident that took place at Nallasopara station on November 3, and TTE Rakesh Mourya has been suspended.
"All passengers, regardless of their religion, language, or region, are equal to us. Providing excellent service to them is our goal. The matter will be investigated thoroughly, and necessary action will be taken," he said.
The TTE asked the passenger, Amit Patil, and his wife to show tickets. The couple asked him to talk in Marathi as they do not understand Hindi. He said to them, "If you are in India, you should know Hindi" and an argument ensued.
The TTE took the couple to the office of the Railway Protection Force, where Patil claimed that the official threatened them and made him write an apology - "We will never demand to speak in Marathi."
In its statement, the Western Railway affirmed its commitment to respecting all languages and passengers.
"Western Railway respects all languages spoken across the country and values the diversity of our passengers, standing firm on unity in diversity," it stated.
