Marathi Language Spat Erupts After Shopkeeper Assault
Minister defends Marathi, condemns violence after sweet shop incident.
A controversy involving language and politics has flared in Maharashtra after footage emerged of a shop owner in Mira Road being attacked for allegedly not speaking Marathi. The incident has triggered strong reactions and ignited a debate about language and regional identity.
Shopkeeper Attacked for Language Choice
The controversy began when a group of men, thought to be associated with the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), allegedly assaulted Babulal Khimji Chaudhary, 48, who owns a sweet shop in Mira Road. The assault reportedly occurred after his staff responded to the men in Hindi. The event, which took place on Tuesday, was filmed and shared widely online.
According to Chaudhary‘s statement to police, the men, some wearing MNS insignia, came into his shop at around 10:30 a.m. and asked for water. When an employee answered in Hindi, the group allegedly became aggressive, which led to a verbal altercation. Chaudhary added that the situation worsened when he explained his employees came from various states and were not fluent in Marathi.
The men reportedly asked Chaudhary what language was spoken in Maharashtra, and he replied that all languages were spoken there. This reply apparently enraged the group, who then assaulted him and recorded the incident. Authorities have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against seven unidentified individuals at the Kashimira police station.
Political Reactions and MNS Defense
State Minister Yogesh Kadam stated, “In Maharashtra, you have to speak Marathi. If you don’t know Marathi, your attitude shouldn’t be that you won’t speak Marathi… If anyone disrespects Marathi in Maharashtra, we will enforce our laws.”
However, he also said that taking the law into one’s own hands was wrong and that the attackers should have instead filed a formal complaint.
An MNS representative defended the actions, asserting that their members were celebrating the government’s reversal of a language policy resolution when they stopped at the shop for water. “The owner was arrogant and said that all languages are spoken in Maharashtra. This triggered the argument,”
the representative claimed.
Rising Linguistic Tensions
This incident highlights the broader tensions surrounding language and identity in India, where regional languages often carry significant cultural and political weight. A 2023 survey by Lokniti-CSDS found that 44% of Indians support the idea that Hindi should be the national language, a view that is particularly strong in Hindi-speaking states but faces resistance elsewhere (Lokniti-CSDS 2023).
Legal Action
As of today, authorities continue to investigate the assault, and the political ramifications continue to unfold. The incident has raised questions about linguistic tolerance and the role of political organizations in enforcing cultural norms.