Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday issued a strong warning against any form of aggression over language, stating that no one in the state should be harassed or assaulted for not knowing Marathi. His comments followed a widely circulated video showing Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) workers allegedly attacking a shopkeeper in Mira-Bhayandar (Thane district) for not speaking the regional language.
Speaking outside the Assembly, Fadnavis said, “Marathi pride is important to us, but violence and hooliganism in its name will not be tolerated. An FIR has been filed, and action has already been taken. Going forward, anyone who takes the law into their own hands will face consequences.”
‘Can’t Be Obstinate About Language’
Fadnavis emphasized that no group holds exclusive rights over the Marathi community. “Over 51% of Marathi-speaking voters supported the Mahayuti alliance. No one should claim monopoly over the Marathi population,” he said. The Chief Minister stressed that traders should not be targeted for linguistic reasons, reminding that many Marathi businesspeople living outside Maharashtra may not be fluent in the local language either.
“We can certainly encourage people to learn Marathi, but we should not be rigid. That would not be appropriate in a diverse country like India. We cannot afford to be that conservative,” he added.
October 3 to Be Marked as Classical Marathi Language Day
Fadnavis’s comments came just a day after the state government announced that October 3 would be celebrated annually as Classical Marathi Language Day, following the Centre’s recognition of Marathi as a classical language last year. The state also declared that October 3–9 would be observed as Classical Marathi Language Week each year, aimed at promoting the rich heritage of the language.
Political Rally Adds to Language Tension
The Chief Minister’s warning comes ahead of a planned joint victory rally in Mumbai by Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS, scheduled for Saturday. The rally celebrates the state government’s recent withdrawal of two controversial resolutions related to a proposed three-language formula in primary schools, which would have made Hindi mandatory alongside Marathi and English.
This rally marks the first public show of unity between Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray since their political split in 2005—an event with potential electoral consequences, especially with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections approaching.
Language Politics Heating Up
With Mumbai’s Marathi-speaking population hovering around 30-35%, the resurgence of the language issue could shift political dynamics in the city and across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance, which includes Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena and the BJP, faces the challenge of balancing its traditional non-Marathi voter base—especially North Indian and Gujarati communities—with rising Marathi-centric sentiments.
Analysts suggest that if the Thackeray cousins manage to consolidate the Marathi vote, it could complicate electoral prospects for the ruling alliance, particularly in cosmopolitan urban centers such as Thane, Navi Mumbai, Mira-Bhayandar, Kalyan-Dombivli, and Bhiwandi, where linguistic diversity runs deep.
As the political discourse sharpens ahead of crucial local body elections, the language debate may evolve into a central campaign theme in Maharashtra’s urban battlegrounds.
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