Amid growing political tension over a recent attack on a shopkeeper who allegedly refused to speak Marathi, hundreds joined a protest march in Thane’s Mira Bhayandar area on Tuesday. The march, led by the MNS and other local groups, was held to assert and protect Marathi ‘asmita’ (pride).
According to a media report, several activists were detained by the police during the march, which also saw participation from leaders and workers of the opposition Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP).
Shiv Sena minister Pratap Sarnaik faced strong opposition from protesters and was forced to leave the site during his visit to express solidarity. The protest march was organised by the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) along with other pro-Marathi groups under the banner of the Marathi Ekikaran Samiti. The demonstration was held in response to a traders’ protest earlier, which had condemned the July 1 incident where MNS workers allegedly slapped a food stall owner for not speaking Marathi.
Rajan Vichare, former Shiv Sena (UBT) Lok Sabha MP who led the protest, claimed that the unity of the ‘Marathi manoos’ compelled the BJP-led state government to withdraw its resolutions aimed at promoting Hindi in Maharashtra.
“In Mira Bhayandar, police gave permission for non-Marathi people protests, but they refused permission to Marathi people. Police imposed curfew restricting the assembling of more than five people at one place. This shows that Marathi people cannot speak and protest freely in their own state,” Vichare said.
Maharashtra police on Monday issued notices to MNS and Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders and workers and discouraged them from participating in the protest. “They forgot that this is the land of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. We will fight for our rights. We will not tolerate any harassment and tyranny. BJP is trying to suppress the voice of Marathi manoos. All community people supported this march,” said MNS leader Avinash Jadhav.
Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena MLA and minister Pratap Sarnaik tried to participate in this march, but people shooed him away by hurling slogans against him. An empty beer bottle was thrown at the minister. Police then intervened and asked the minister to leave the protest.
Sarnaik said the MNS and Shiv Sena (UBT) are doing politics over Marathi and non-Marathi issues. “I am also a Marathi. But some people who are against me provoked the crowd, therefore they spoke against me. Some anti-social elements entered this Marathi manoos march, therefore they hurled the bottle,” the minister said.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aditya Thackeray said, “State government gave permission for non-Marathi people to march but refused it for Marathi people. It shows that the current government is anti-Marathi and Maharashtra. We met chief justice of India Bhushan Gavai and conveyed all these sentiments.”
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the police did not deny the permission for Marathi people to march. They were demanding a specific route, which would have caused law and order problem, so the permission was denied. “Law has to be followed. The police were not against the Marathi people’s marach, but wanted them to follow certain routes and guidelines,” he clarified.
Shinde Sena Minister Pratap Sarnaik Forced to Leave Protest Amid Slogans, Bottle Thrown
Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena minister and MLA Pratap Sarnaik attempted to join the protest march but was met with strong resistance from the crowd. Protesters raised slogans against him, and an empty beer bottle was reportedly hurled in his direction. Police quickly intervened and advised the minister to leave the site to avoid further tension.
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