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News18
13-07-2025
- Politics
- News18
MNS, Sena UBT Supporters Publicly Slap Auto Driver Over His Refusal To Speak Marathi
Last Updated: An auto driver was assaulted in public, allegedly by supporters of Shiv Sena UBT and MNS, over his refusal to speak Marathi. An auto-rickshaw driver in Maharashtra's Palghar was thrashed in public, allegedly by the supporters of Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena (UBT) and his cousin Raj Thackeray's MNS, over his refusal to speak Marathi. A video of the auto-rickshaw driver, a migrant, went viral, showing him arguing with another migrant from Uttar Pradesh, Bhavesh Padolia, at Virar station. He said in the video that he would only speak Hindi when he was asked why he was not speaking in Marathi. Padolia had asked the driver why he did not speak Marathi in public, to which he driver had said that he would not do so and would rather speak in Bhojpuri and Hindi. Against the backdrop of this incident, supporters of Shiv Sena UBT and MNS confronted the auto-rickshaw driver near the railway station. The video of the confrontation went viral on social media, showing the driver getting slapped by those men repeatedly. He was forced to apologise and chant slogans in Marathi. Sena UBT Virar city chief, Uday Jadhav, who was reportedly present at the spot, admitted that the group 'responded in true Shiv Sena style". The latest incident comes as a series of such assaults have been reported lately in Maharashtra, as politics over language has found prominence in the political corridors. Earlier on July 1, a street food vendor was slapped by the MNS workers for refusing to speak in Marathi. Seven workers were later held. In Mumbai's Mira Road suburb, seven MNS workers had slapped and threatened Babulal Chaudhary, a 48-year-old shopkeeper who runs the Jodhpur Sweet Shop. His staff member, Bagharam, who hails from Rajasthan, spoke to the MNS men in Hindi. The MNS workers demanded that both Chaudhary and Bagharam speak in Marathi. However, Chaudhary reportedly pointed out that all languages are spoken in the state. The MNS workers allegedly assaulted and recorded a video of the incident. view comments First Published: July 13, 2025, 12:57 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hans India
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Political war over MNS rally in Thane
Mumbai: In a dramatic development, a Maharashtra minister and Shiv Sena leader tried to join the Opposition Maharashtra Navnirman Sena's (MNS) protest against his government amid the raging language debate in Maharashtra. MNS workers heckled the minister, Pratap Sarnaik, and forced him to leave the protest site in Thane. Several workers of the Raj Thackeray-led MNS were detained in Thane's Mira Road on Tuesday morning when they took out a march to counter the protests against the 'slapgate' incident, in which MNS workers assaulted a food stall owner for not speaking Marathi. Chaotic visuals played out as MNS workers hit the streets and cops caught them and put them in police vans. The police did not permit today's protest. While being detained, several MNS workers questioned why traders were allowed to protest the 'slapgate' incident, but their counter-protest was prohibited. Many of them said that whoever lives in Maharashtra must learn Marathi and threatened that those who don't will "face consequences". Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis trashed the allegations that police denied permission for the rally. "In Maharashtra, everyone has the right to take out a protest march. Anyone can do after taking police permission. There are traffic issues, stampede risks, etc. The police commissioner told me they (MNS leaders) were asked to change the route, but they were adamant. So, police stopped them," he said. Taking a swipe at his rivals, the Chief Minister said, "I think I know Maharashtra's mood. Such experiments won't work here. A Marathi has a large heart. He does not think small." At the centre of the language row is an assault on a shopkeeper late on Sunday. Forty-eight-year-old Babulal Chaudhary, who runs the 'Jodhpur Sweet Shop' in Mira Road, was slapped and threatened by the seven MNS thugs because his staff, Bagharam, spoke to the men in Hindi. The MNS workers demanded that Chaudhary and Bagharam speak in Marathi, and the shop owner pointed out that all languages are spoken in the state. A video of the assault went viral on social media, reigniting the language debate in Maharashtra. The language row is also playing out against the backdrop of key developments in Maharashtra politics. Estranged cousins Uddhav Thackeray and MNS chief Raj Thackeray have reunited and are countering the BJP's political attacks over the 'slapgate' incident. The 'slapgate' incident followed the political row over the state government introducing 'Hindi' in the primary school curriculum. This was later rolled back. The issue has sparked heated exchanges between leaders on opposite sides of the political aisle. Senior BJP leader and MP Nishikant Dubey launched a no-holds-barred attack on the Thackerays and dared them to come to Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. "If you're so courageous that you can beat those who speak Hindi, then you should also beat those who speak Urdu, Tamil, and Telugu. If you're such a big 'boss,' step out of Maharashtra, come to Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu - tumko patak patak ke maarenge," the BJP leader said. Uddhav Thackeray accused the BJP of trying to gain political mileage by "divide and rule policy". He said he was not against any language, but would oppose its imposition by force. "Divide and rule has always been the BJP's policy. This style of politics is now losing its relevance. I can understand if their party is unsettled because of the success of our rally in Mumbai on Saturday," he told reporters.
NDTV
04-07-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Swift Bail For 7 Workers From Raj Thackeray's MNS In Marathi Slapgate Row
Mumbai: Seven members of Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena - who assaulted a Mumbai shopkeeper for not speaking in Marathi, filmed their brutal attack, and shared it online - were released within hours of being detained yesterday evening, sources told NDTV Friday morning. Maharashtra minister Nitish Rane confirmed their 'arrest' in a brief interview with NDTV. But minutes after he spoke it emerged the seven men had never actually been arrested; they had only been detained and interrogated, their statements recorded, and then released. Mr Rane spoke to NDTV again and seemed uncertain before stating the men will, in fact, be arrested. "Arrest will get done soon... Chief Minister (Devendra Fadnavis) is also looking into it," he claimed, "Marathi should be spoken. No compromises... but nobody should take the law into their hand." Police sources told NDTV the seven had been released on bail bonds since the charges against them are of a lenient nature, and hold a maximum punishment of less than seven years. They can now only be arrested if the charges are amended to include more stringent ones. Deputy Commissioner of Police Prakash Gaikwad earlier told NDTV the assault on the Mumbai shopkeepre, as seen in the video shared online, is clearly a cognisable offence. The assault took place late Sunday. MNS 'Slapgate' Incident The shopkeeper, 48-year-old Babulal Chaudhary, who runs the 'Jodhpur Sweet Shop' in Mumbai's Mira Road suburb, was slapped and threatened by the seven MNS thugs because his staff member, Mr Bagharam, who is from Rajasthan, spoke to the men in Hindi. The thugs demanded Mr Chaudhary and Mr Bagharam speak in Marathi, to which the shopkeeper pointed out, quite correctly, that all languages are spoken in the state. A still from before the shopkeeper's assault. The MNS goons filmed their assault and even posted it online. NDTV identified four of the men in the attack but a police case was filed only two days later. It would be another 24 hours before the police summoned the thugs from Raj Thackeray's party. The assault triggered widespread outrage, particularly since it came as Raj Thackeray and his estranged cousin, Shiv Sena (UBT) boss Uddhav Thackeray, have been claiming credit for forcing the Maharashtra government to backtrack in the 'Hindi imposition' row. MNS, Maha Government Shocker Predictably, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena refused to apologise for the assault; the party's Mumbai unit chief, Sandeep Deshpande, told reporters Mr Chaudhary had 'insulted' Marathi and said, "If there is an attempt to insult Marathi, we will respond. We won't tolerate it." READ | 'If Raj Thackeray Is Criticised...': Amid Slap Row, MNS Goons' Warning What was shocking was Maharashtra Home Minister Yogesh Kadam's response; he said 'action will be taken' against anyone who 'disrespects Marathi', but made no mention of punishing the MNS hooligans. "Marathi will have to be spoken in Maharashtra..." NDTV also spoke to Amol Patil, one of the goons who took part in the assault. He said Mr Chaudhary's 'attitude' had prompted the attack, and that he expected non-Marathi speakers in the state to 'behave' themselves, and learn the language to avoid being attacked. Meanwhile, in a lukewarm and ambivalent response to the attack, senior opposition leader Aaditya Thackeray, who is Uddhav Thackeray's son, only said that Marathi "shouldn't be insulted".
NDTV
02-07-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
"Said Have To Speak In Marathi": Man Threatened By Raj Thackeray Party Workers
Mumbai: A worker at a shop in Thane, whose owner was thrashed by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) workers for asking them why speaking in Marathi should be compulsory, on Wednesday said the accused had first threatened him for not speaking the language. Speaking to NDTV three days after several members of the Raj Thackeray-led party thrashed the 'Jodhpur Sweets' shopkeeper, a resident of Rajasthan's Pali, the worker, Bagharam, said they told him that he has to speak in Marathi in Maharashtra. "They (the MNS workers) were taking out a rally and came inside the shop and asked me for a bottle of water. I gave them water. They then asked me: 'Where do you live'. I said, in Maharashtra. They then said, 'If you live in Maharashtra, you will have to speak Marathi'," Mr Bagharam said. "I said we speak all languages, so they threatened to beat me up and said they would damage the shop," he said. He said they then went to the owner at the counter and had an argument with him. Mr Bagharam said the MNS workers had been coming to the shop for tea and snacks. "That day, they suddenly became violent over the Marathi language," he said. He said he has been living in Mumbai for 15 years and has worked with a lot of Marathi people, but this was the "first time" he had seen such an incident. "We also speak in Marathi whenever required," Mr Bagharam said. Video Shows MNS Workers Slapping Shopkeeper A video has gone viral that shows the MNS workers assaulting the shopkeeper on Sunday night. "You asked me why you should speak in Marathi. What does that mean? When you had trouble, you had come to the MNS office," a member told the shopkeeper, who replied that he had no idea when speaking in the language became compulsory. Another man, who also used some curse words, warned the shopkeeper that he would not be allowed to do business in the area. When the shopkeeper said they would need to teach him Marathi, one of the men said, "Yeah, say that then. What do you mean why should you learn Marathi? This is Maharashtra. Which language is spoken in Maharashtra?" When the shopkeeper replied "all languages", they repeatedly slapped him. A police case has been registered against seven members of the MNS. The incident comes against the backdrop of the Raj Thackeray-led party trying to push for the use of the Marathi language in commercial establishments and banks in Maharashtra. They have also been at the forefront of the campaign against the implementation of the three-language policy in Maharashtra schools, which is part of the National Education Policy.
