Mumbai Stations: Devotional Bhojpuri songs at Mumbai stations trigger row | Mumbai News

Mumbai witnessed a clash of cultures as the playing of Bhojpuri songs at railway stations for Chhath Puja sparked a debate

MUMBAI: Language wars again erupted in Mumbai, this time over the playing of devotional Bhojpuri songs at several Central Railway and Western Railway stations ahead of Chhath Puja.Following warnings of agitation from local outfits, which alleged a threat to the state’s Marathi identity, the songs were stopped at some stations.While some passengers urged the authorities to prioritise suburban train punctuality and amenities instead, other commuter outfits said creating such a controversy would only harm Mumbai’s cosmopolitan identity.This is the first time that Bhojpuri songs are being played at stations like CSMT and LTT, where special trains are being run for Chhath Puja.Jitu Patil of Maharashtra Navnirman Railway Sena said, “We warned the administration that if the songs were not stopped in an hour, we would launch an agitation.”Shiv Sena (UBT) corporator Mandhuri Vishwasrao Manjrekar said she was alerted to the issue by passengers from her constituency.“I am not against any language, but regular announcements were compromised because of the songs being played at Wadala station. I visited the station on Wednesday, after which the songs were stopped. On Thursday, I visited Dadar station and raised an objection.”Central Railway chief public relations officer Swapnil Nila rebutted the charge that the songs are being played at the cost of regular train announcements.He said the railways plays theme-based jingles and public awareness messages during festivals and special occasions.