A video shared on Reddit shows a BMTC conductor slapping a Hindi-speaking passenger over a ticket dispute, even after the passenger had paid a fine. The incident quickly sparked debates on social media about bus norms, language, and conduct.
Passenger’s Lapses and Conductor’s Rage
One Reddit user commented: “The facts Orignal poster convineintly excludes because he has a agenda. Passenger was sitting in the bus since many stops but didn’t bother to ask for a ticket and he tried to justify lack of ticket with childish reasons like the conductor didn’t ask and he didn’t know that he should ask for ticket. This is typical free loader behaviour) The conductor was fined ₹500 for having a ticketless traveller. “
The user added, “Several locals in the bus supported the ticket less moron because the conductor had no right to slap any one and rightly so. And yes buying a ticket in a bus and asking for it if the conductor doesn’t ask you is the norm in the whole world and not specific to Bangalore. I understand that in other parts of India buying a ticket might not be the norm.”
Debate Over Language and Nationalism
Another user added: “This was an assault, plain and simple. No excuses. But why bring the language angle? If the conductor doesn’t know Hindi, how would he speak it. Yet people of Bengaluru keep getting questioned about their nationalism. Nationalism isn’t proved in speaking Hindi.”
The discussion also noted that both the passenger and the conductor were communicating in their own languages during the altercation. One user explained: “This passenger neglected to take a ticket. There are regular squads for checking in BMTC who will fine both the passenger and conductor if any passenger on the bus does not have a valid ticket/pass. Same thing happened here and the conductor got angry because he was fined and started argument and slapped the passenger in the heat of argument (I’m not supporting slapping of passenger). The passenger started shouting in his mother tongue and the conductor started shouting in his mother tongue so people are making this a language issue(apparently even they made it about language issue) even though an extended video shows that locals stood up for that guy.”
The incident has reignited conversations on social media about conduct rules in Bengaluru buses, the responsibilities of passengers, and the broader discussion on language and civic respect in India.