HomePoliticsNitesh Rane Dares MNS to Try Language Policing in Null Bazar or...

Nitesh Rane Dares MNS to Try Language Policing in Null Bazar or Mohammed Ali Road

Mumbai: In a sharp rebuke to rising incidents of linguistic vigilantism, BJP leader and Maharashtra minister Nitesh Rane has lashed out at those assaulting individuals for not speaking Marathi. His fiery remarks came in response to a recent incident in Mira Road, where Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) workers allegedly assaulted a restaurant owner for speaking in Hindi instead of Marathi.

The Mira Road episode sparked public outrage, with many residents rallying behind the victim. In protest, local businesses and eateries remained shut on Thursday, June 3, as a mark of solidarity and to demand legal action against the accused.

Addressing the media, Rane did not mince words. “A poor Hindu was attacked for not speaking Marathi. If these so-called Marathi warriors have courage, let them go to Null Bazar or Mohammed Ali Road and try the same thing there. Do people wearing skullcaps and sporting beards speak perfect Marathi?” he asked, invoking prominent figures such as Javed Akhtar and Aamir Khan to challenge what he called “selective aggression.”

Rane, who is known for his blunt and provocative style, accused language enforcers of targeting easy victims while avoiding areas where they might face pushback. “This government was formed by Hindus and represents the ideology of Hindutva. If this bullying continues, our government too will open its third eye,” he warned.

The viral video from Mira Road shows three MNS members confronting a restaurant owner, slapping him multiple times while questioning his use of Hindi in a Marathi-speaking state. The incident has reignited debates about linguistic tolerance, freedom of expression, and regional identity in a culturally diverse state like Maharashtra.

Civil society groups, opposition leaders, and even many citizens on social media have condemned the assault, calling it an attack on individual rights and democratic values. Legal experts say any attempt to force a language on citizens through violence could constitute a criminal offense.

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