'Punjabi Toh Aani Chahiye' Fresh Language Clash Erupts After Local Man Schools Post Office Staffer | Viral VIDEO

A fresh language-related dispute has surfaced online, this time from Punjab, adding to the string of recent linguistic flashpoints reported from different parts of the country. A video from Amritsar’s General Post Office, which began circulating on social media, shows a heated exchange between a local man and a postal department employee over the use of Punjabi.The confrontation reportedly began when the man approached the counter to post a letter written in Punjabi. Trouble started after the post office employee said that he was unable to read the language and asked the man to translate the address on the envelope. This request appeared to trigger an argument, with the local man questioning why an official posted in Punjab could not read Punjabi.In

the viral footage, the man is heard insisting that the responsibility lay with the official to know the regional language, especially given the large number of Punjabi-speaking residents who visit the post office daily. “Maine toh isse post karna hai. Main aap se Hindi mein baat kar raha hoon. Aapka banta hai mere se Punjabi mein baat karne ka (I want to get it posted. I am speaking to you in Hindi. It is you who should speak to me in Punjabi),” he says in the clip.Note: Times now could not independently verify the authenticity of the video.

As the exchange grew more intense, the postal employee turned to a senior colleague for assistance. “Sir batayein main kya karoon. Mujhe Punjabi aati nahi hai, maine bola mujhe padh kar bata do. Usmein bhi takleef hai. (Sir, please tell me what to do now. I am asking him to read and tell me, but he has a problem with that as well),” the employee can be heard saying.The local man then interrupted, reiterating his point and expressing disappointment over the situation. “Humein batane mein takleef nahi hai. Humein bada khed hai ke aap Punjab mein, Punjab ke office mein yahaan pe aake baithe ho, chahe Central government ka hai. Lekin aapko Punjabi toh aani chahiye na. Punjabi log yahaan pe saare aa rahe hain, aapko Punjabi aani chahiye. (We do not have any trouble in telling you, but we are disappointed that you are in Punjab and working here, even under the Central government. You should have learnt Punjabi. All Punjabi people are coming here and you should know Punjabi).”At this point, another staff member stepped in and attempted to defuse the situation.Since surfacing online, the video has drawn widespread attention and divided opinion. While some supported the demand for regional language familiarity, a large section of social media users criticised the local man’s conduct. One user remarked, “If someone travels across states every year, should they be expected to learn every local language? One commonly understood language is enough for basic communication. Forcing language compliance only creates unnecessary pressure.” Another commented, “Postal service delivers letters, not language debates.”