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Kannada language row: On camera, driver slams toll booth employee for speaking in Hindi

In the video, captured from inside a car, a man is heard screaming at a toll booth employee for speaking in Hindi instead of Kannada. The clip has gone viral.

Updated on: Sep 17, 2024, 17:19:27 IST
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A video of a driver slamming a toll booth employee for speaking in Hindi has added fresh fuel to the ongoing language row on social media. The video, in which a man is heard screaming at another for speaking in Hindi at a toll booth located on the Karnataka-Maharashtra border, has gone viral, leaving people with opposing opinions.

The image captures glimpses of a heated argument between a driver and a toll booth employee. The video surfaced amid Kannada language row. (Screengrab)
The image captures glimpses of a heated argument between a driver and a toll booth employee. The video surfaced amid Kannada language row. (Screengrab)

In the video, the man is heard asking why the employee is not speaking in Kannada. The employee, in turn, takes out his phone to record the conversation and defends his stand, saying that Hindi is a language spoken all over India. The rest of the video further captures the heated argument.

With over 73,000 views, the share has collected nearly 200 likes. It has also prompted people to post various opinions.

What did X users say about this language row video?

“They have to speak or else they can go to their respective states and build there,” posted an X user. Another added, “It is obviously forced. When the toll operator clearly said that he is NOT willing to speak in Kannada, then the Kannadiga driver should have dropped the conversation and gone ahead. Forcing the toll operator to speak Kannada is unacceptable. The toll operator should file an FIR.”

A third commented, “And no one forces Kannada people to speak in Hindi when in the north. I see a tremendous divide between people from the south and north. Then, within the south, people are divided between Tamil, Andhra, Karnataka, and Malayalee. These divisions are of the mind only. We should learn to coexist.”

A fourth wrote, “The area is north Karnataka, where most locals are Marathi speakers. In India, every 100 km, you will find a different language and culture. Hence, it is illogical for someone to learn some other local language just because he works there.”

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The Kannada language row has taken social media by storm, with people commenting to show their support or speak against the issue. It all started with a viral post: “To everyone coming to Bengaluru, You will be treated as OUTSIDERS in Bengaluru if you don't speak Kannada or make an effort to speak Kannada. Write it down, Share it around. We ain't Joking.”

It didn’t take long for the X post to go viral, with people flooding the comments section with opinionated reactions. Following this, several social media posts surfaced, supporting or against the viral X post. Further, it sparked a war of words about North India and South India on social media.

  • Trisha Sengupta
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Trisha Sengupta

    Trisha Sengupta works as Chief Content Producer at Hindustan Times with over six years of experience in the digital newsroom. Known for her ability to decode the internet’s most talked-about moments, she specialises in high-engagement storytelling that bridges the gap between viral trends and traditional journalism. Throughout her tenure, Trisha has focused on the intersection of technology, finance, and human emotion. She frequently covers personal finance and real estate struggles in hubs like Gurgaon, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, while also documenting the unique challenges of the NRI experience. Her work often highlights the movements and philosophies of global newsmakers and personalities like Elon Musk, Mukesh Ambani, Nikhil Kamath, Dubai crown prince, and MrBeast. From reporting on Amazon or Meta layoffs and startup culture to the emergence of AI-driven platforms like Grok and xAI, she provides a grounded and empathetic perspective on the stories shaping our world. When not decoding the internet, Trisha is likely offline: lost in a book, exploring a historical ruin, or navigating the world as a solo traveler. She balances her fast-paced career with family time and a healthy dose of curiosity, currently trading her "human" sources for silicon ones as she masters AI to future-proof her storytelling.Read More

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