• By Raju Kumar
  • Fri, 04 Jul 2025 05:26 PM (IST)
  • Source:JND

Marathi Language Row: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday finally broke his silence over the ongoing Marathi language assaults in the state. In his strong-worded reaction to the series of incidents in which non-Marathis were beaten by local politicians for not speaking the Marathi language, Fadnavis said that his government will not tolerate hooliganism in the name of language.

The chief minister said, "It is not wrong to be proud of the Marathi language in Maharashtra. But if someone indulges in hooliganism due to language, we will not tolerate it. If someone beats up people on the basis of language, this will not be tolerated."

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The police have filed an FIR and taken action on the incident, and if anyone creates such a language dispute in future, legal action will be taken, he added.

Fadnavis' English Jibe At MNS Leaders

"We are proud of our Marathi, but injustice cannot be done to any language of India in this manner; we will have to keep this in mind. And sometimes I am surprised that these people embrace English and create disputes over Hindi. What kind of thinking is this and what kind of action is this? Therefore, strict action will be taken against those who take the law into their own hands," Fadnavis said.

Meanwhile, seven members of the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) were detained for allegedly assaulting a foodstall owner for not speaking Marathi, an official said on Friday. The accused persons were allowed to go after the police served notices on them, he said.
 
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The incident took place on Tuesday in the Bhayander area of Thane district. A video of the assault, which went viral on social media, showed some of the attackers wearing scarves sporting the MNS symbol.
 
While purchasing food, one of them asked the stall owner to speak in Marathi, to which he questioned them back. While the man shouted at the shopkeeper, some others with him slapped the stall owner, a police official had said earlier.
 
The Kashimira police had subsequently registered a case against seven MNS members under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for rioting, threatening and assault. The accused persons were brought to the police station. They were allowed to go after the police handed them notices, said sub-inspector Kiran Kadam of Kashimira police station.
(With agencies inputs)