Thane: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) state leader Sandeep Deshpande addressed a large gathering of party workers in Mira-Bhayandar today, openly defying police restrictions that denied permission for a planned Marathi Morcha. The rally, rooted in ongoing tensions over the use of the Marathi language, proceeded amid heavy police deployment and prohibitory orders under Section 144.
Deshpande strongly criticized the authorities, accusing them of selective enforcement. He claimed the protest was a response to the recent assault of a shop owner who was allegedly targeted for speaking Hindi. “The police are showing respect to the protest march of Gujarati traders, but are not giving permission to the march of Marathi people. What kind of emergency-like situation is this? Is this Maharashtra or Gujarat?” he questioned.
Earlier in the day, police detained several MNS leaders, including Thane-Palghar MNS head Avinash Jadhav, in an attempt to prevent escalation. Despite these arrests, Deshpande declared the protest would continue, challenging law enforcement to stop them.
According to the police, the party was not denied permission altogether but was asked to alter their chosen route due to safety concerns. MNS leaders, however, insisted on proceeding with the original plan, leading to the denial.
The rally comes in the wake of a recent incident where seven MNS workers were charged for allegedly assaulting a shopkeeper who they claimed refused to speak Marathi. That case triggered a strong reaction from the trading community, including a bandh, and has since fueled political mobilization by the MNS.
