A row over the Marathi language triggered a debate among political leaders of the communities residing in the state of Maharashtra after a shopkeeper was physically assaulted by the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) activists in the Mira Road area after the shopkeeper refused to speak Marathi.
A video of the assault went viral on social media. The footage sparked a debate as a few got enraged with the incident while others, especially Maharashtrians, defended the act, stating that Hindi should not be imposed.
The Maharashtra leaders, including ministers, expressed their views that Marathi should not be disrespected by non-Marathi speakers.
Maharashtra Minister Yogesh Kadam says, “In Maharashtra, you have to speak Marathi. If you don’t know Marathi, your attitude shouldn’t be that you won’t speak Marathi… If anyone disrespects Marathi in Maharashtra, we will enforce our laws. Those who beat up (the shop owner) should not take the law into their own hands. They should have filed a complaint against the concerned person; action would have been taken.”
#WATCH | Mumbai | On a viral video of a shop owner in Thane assaulted for purportedly refusing to speak in Marathi, Maharashtra Minister Yogesh Kadam says, "In Maharashtra, you have to speak Marathi. If you don't know Marathi, your attitude shouldn't be that you won't speak… pic.twitter.com/kSXV1JekAn
— ANI (@ANI) July 3, 2025
Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray said, “We want that our mother tongue Marathi is not insulted and no language is forcefully imposed… We don’t want anybody to take the law into their hands, but when it is the other way round and Marathi or Maharashtra is insulted, things can escalate.”
#WATCH | Mumbai | On Hindi language row, Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray says, "We want that our mother tongue Marathi is not insulted and no language is forcefully imposed… We don't want anybody to take the law into their hands, but when it is the other way round and… pic.twitter.com/sDx1DlGY7v
— ANI (@ANI) July 3, 2025
