Mumbai: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has issued a strong condemnation of the recent assault on a shopkeeper by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) workers for allegedly not speaking Marathi. Addressing the media on Friday, Fadnavis emphasized that while pride in one’s language is natural, resorting to violence in its name is completely unacceptable.
Fadnavis stated that Maharashtra respects and celebrates the Marathi language, but warned that any attempts to stir unrest or harass individuals over linguistic identity would be met with strict legal consequences. “There’s nothing wrong in taking pride in Marathi, but taking the law into one’s own hands is unacceptable,” he said.
The remarks came in response to an incident in Mira Road, near Mumbai, where a group of MNS workers reportedly assaulted a local shopkeeper for communicating in Hindi. The video of the incident, which circulated widely on social media, triggered public outrage. Shops in the area remained closed the following day in protest.
The Chief Minister said that an FIR had been registered against the accused, and the police were taking “appropriate action.” He also criticized the hypocrisy of individuals who embrace English but target Hindi speakers. “It’s shocking that those who eagerly use English in daily life create conflict when someone speaks Hindi. This contradictory mindset is dangerous,” he said.
Fadnavis warned that Maharashtra would not allow any organization or group to create divisions among people based on language. He reiterated that the administration would not tolerate hooliganism under the guise of cultural or linguistic pride.
Despite being briefly detained, the seven accused MNS workers were released within hours, as the charges against them were classified as bailable. According to reports, one of the accused unapologetically defended the attack, claiming the shopkeeper had provoked them.
