Language Row Escalates (Social Media)
National News: The ongoing language controversy in Maharashtra's Mira Road has intensified, as Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) workers were detained by police on Monday during a protest against the use of Hindi. The protest came in the wake of a violent incident in which a shopkeeper and his employee were assaulted, allegedly for speaking in Hindi.
Police officials stated that the protest was unauthorized and posed a threat to traffic and public safety. The detained MNS activists claimed discrimination, questioning why shopkeepers were allowed to protest earlier, while their own demonstration was curtailed.
Before being detained, several MNS activists issued open threats, saying that “every resident of Maharashtra must learn Marathi” or be prepared to face consequences. Videos circulating on social media show protestors standing outside shops, raising slogans, and confronting people over linguistic preferences, sparking widespread concern over rising intolerance.
#WATCH | Maharashtra | Police detain MNS workers protesting to counter traders' protest over language row, in Mira Bhayandar area pic.twitter.com/r9F1Rch10D
— ANI (@ANI) July 8, 2025
The Mira Bhayander Police clarified that no official permission was granted for any demonstration on the route chosen by MNS workers. Officials cited traffic congestion and safety risks as reasons. According to the police, MNS leaders were advised to change their protest route, but when they refused, preventive detention was carried out to maintain order.
The detained protestors were taken away in police vans, and video footage shared by news agency ANI quickly went viral online, prompting mixed reactions from across the political spectrum.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis broke his silence on the incident, emphasizing that the government respects the right to protest, but not at the cost of public order. He said, “Every citizen in Maharashtra has the constitutional right to protest, but it must be done with prior police permission and within the framework of the law. In this case, the MNS was advised to shift their protest location, which they declined, leaving the authorities no choice.”
He also took a dig at the opposition, stating, “I understand the temperament of Maharashtra. A true Marathi person has a large heart and doesn’t indulge in narrow-mindedness. Such divisive actions are not acceptable in this state.”
The controversy traces back to Sunday night, when seven MNS workers allegedly assaulted shop owner Babulal Choudhary (48) and his employee Bagharam at the Jodhpur Sweet Shop in Mira Road. According to reports, the MNS workers demanded that Bagharam speak in Marathi. When he responded in Hindi, the situation escalated into a physical altercation.
Choudhary reportedly tried to explain that multiple languages are spoken in Maharashtra, but the attackers refused to listen. The assault was caught on camera, and the video has since gone viral, igniting a fierce debate over language, identity, and cultural freedom.
This incident is not an isolated one. Language-related disputes have repeatedly surfaced in Maharashtra, particularly around the Marathi-Hindi divide. A recent controversy arose when the state government proposed introducing Hindi as an optional language in primary schools. The move faced staunch opposition from MNS and other regional groups, prompting the government to eventually withdraw the plan. However, the political spark had already been lit.
What happened in Mira Road is more than a scuffle over spoken words—it reflects growing social polarization where language is increasingly being used as a symbol of identity and exclusion. The aggressive posturing and threats by political activists jeopardize Maharashtra’s cultural pluralism and strain the fabric of its civil society. It remains to be seen how the state government balances legal enforcement and social harmony in this evolving and volatile issue.
Copyright © 2025 Top Indian News
