Special Correspondent
Pune: The recent incident of a Gujarati-speaking shopkeeper being assaulted in Mira Road, Mumbai for not speaking Marathi has triggered a nationwide backlash against regional language-based vigilantism. The outrage has now reached the national political stage, with BJP MP Dr. Nishikant Dubey directly challenging the Thackeray cousins – Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray – over their stance on the issue.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Dr. Dubey launched a scathing attack, stating, “Even a dog is a tiger in our house. If you have the courage, go and beat up Urdu-speaking people in Maharashtra. Decide for yourself who’s the dog and who’s the tiger.”
This was a direct taunt aimed at the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), who have been aggressively vocal against the use of Hindi in Maharashtra. Dr. Dubey’s post, in which he tagged both parties, accused them of selectively targeting Hindi speakers while avoiding other linguistic groups, particularly Urdu-speaking minorities, due to vote bank considerations.
The controversy began with protests by the Thackeray faction and the MNS, claiming to oppose the “forcible imposition of Hindi” in Maharashtra. Tensions escalated when MNS workers allegedly assaulted a shopkeeper in Mira Road for not conducting business in Marathi. The matter intensified after MNS chief Raj Thackeray, during a joint rally with Uddhav Thackeray, gave provocative remarks urging party workers to slap those who refuse to speak Marathi.
The incident has sparked criticism not only from political opponents but also from members within the ruling alliance.
Responding to the developments, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis issued a stern warning against such vigilantism. In a press briefing, he said, “We are proud of being Marathi. But physically attacking someone for not speaking Marathi is absolutely wrong. If tomorrow our Marathi-speaking people, who run businesses in other states, are treated similarly for not speaking the local language, would we accept it? Such acts of hooliganism in the name of language cannot be tolerated.”
Fadnavis also highlighted the irony that many of these self-proclaimed Marathi protectors are comfortable using English but become agitated over the use of Hindi. “People who embrace English fight over Hindi. What kind of thinking is that?” he asked.
He added that the police have filed FIRs and taken appropriate action against the offenders and warned that any further incidents of language-based violence would be met with strict legal consequences.
