• Source:JND
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In a controversial statement, BJP leader and Maharashtra minister Ashish Shelar compared the recent attacks on non-Marathi speakers in Mumbai to the Pahalgam terror attack, asking, “What’s the difference?” His remarks come amid rising tensions over language politics in Maharashtra, triggered by violent incidents allegedly involving Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). The issue has become a key political flashpoint ahead of crucial local body polls.

The political landscape in Maharashtra is increasingly polarised after videos surfaced showing MNS workers slapping a shopkeeper for speaking in Hindi. The MNS has faced allegations of harassing and threatening non-Marathi-speaking citizens under the pretext of protecting the Marathi identity.

“In Pahalgam, people were killed on the basis of their religion. And here in Maharashtra, Hindus are being killed only because of their language. What is the difference between these two?” Shelar told NDTV, sparking criticism over his comparison of political violence with a terror attack.

Shelar’s remarks referenced the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, in which 25 tourists were killed, allegedly targeted for their religion. A local pony ride operator also lost his life while trying to fight off the attackers.

The controversy in Maharashtra deepened with the state’s now-withdrawn three-language policy, which was criticised by both Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray as an attempt to impose Hindi over Marathi. The rollback of the policy led to a rare show of unity between the estranged Thackeray cousins, who shared the stage at a rally in Mumbai, declaring “victory” for Marathi pride.

That rally, however, drew sharp criticism for what was seen as an open endorsement of aggressive tactics. MNS workers were accused of “goondagiri” (hooliganism), with pro-Marathi slogans echoing loudly across the venue.

Uddhav Thackeray, leader of the Shiv Sena (UBT), defended the MNS’s stance, saying, “If a Marathi manus is asking for justice, and if you are calling us goons, then yes, we are goons.” Raj Thackeray added his own warning, “Try to touch Maharashtra and see what happens.”

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Reacting to the reunion of the Thackeray cousins, Ashish Shelar remarked sarcastically that the BJP “believes in the joint family system.” He claimed Raj’s speech lacked substance while Uddhav’s tone was filled with the pain of losing power.

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Continuing his attack on Uddhav Thackeray, Shelar accused him of compromising on ideology for political gains. “Uddhav Thackeray cannot live without power… ideology, Marathi identity, Maharashtra—none of that matters to him. He left BJP for Congress-NCP when he didn’t get the Chief Minister’s post. Now for BMC control, he’ll go on any platform,” Shelar alleged.