Shops Shut In Mira-Bhayandar As Protest Grows Against MNS Workers’ Assault Over Language Row

Mumbai: Tensions flared in the Mira-Bhayandar region as local shopkeepers staged a spontaneous protest by shutting down their businesses in response to a recent assault by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) workers on a restaurant owner who allegedly failed to speak in Marathi.

The unrest began after a disturbing incident on July 1, when MNS members confronted and attacked a restaurant owner in Mira Road for not communicating in Marathi. The exchange reportedly started with a language-related question, to which the owner jokingly replied that he didn’t know Marathi was compulsory. This response angered the MNS workers, one of whom slapped the owner multiple times in full public view.

The situation further escalated when the owner defended himself by stating that Maharashtra is home to speakers of all languages. The video of the altercation quickly went viral, sparking outrage across social media and drawing criticism over the use of violence in the name of language protection.

On the morning of July 3, shopkeepers across Mira-Bhayandar closed their shutters in solidarity with the assaulted restaurant owner and to condemn what they described as “intimidation politics.” Images of closed shops, deserted streets, and protest banners began circulating widely online, with hashtags like #StopLanguageViolence and #MiraBhayandarProtests trending on local platforms.

Police have initiated a preliminary investigation into the incident, but no formal complaint has been filed by the victim. Meanwhile, civil society groups and activists are calling on authorities to take strict action against those responsible and to ensure that linguistic pride does not override individual rights and business safety.