Maharashtra Language Row: MNS Workers Detained During The Counter-Protest; ‘Threatened To Learn Marathi Or Face’

Maharashtra Language Row:  Several workers of Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Nav Nirman Sena (MNS) were detained this morning in Thane’s Mira Road while carrying out a protest against the slapgate incident, in which MNS workers had assaulted a food stall owner for not speaking Marathi.

This was a counter-protest by MNS workers. Earlier, A protest was taken out by the traders against the slapgate incident.

Dramatic scenes were being recorded as MNS workers were hitting the streets during the protest, and then police caught them and put them in police vans.

MNS workers, while being detained, questioned why traders were permitted to protest but their counter-protest was being disrupted by the police. Those who live in Maharashtra must speak Hindi Or be ready to face the consequences, Many of them reiterated.

The incident occurred on Sunday when MNS thugs slapped and threatened forty-eight-year-old Babulal Chaudhary. He runs the ‘Jodhpur Sweet Shop’.

Babulal’s staff member Bagharam spoke to the men in Hindi, which angered the MNS goons, and they asked him to speak in Marathi. During this, the shop owner pointed out that all languages are spoken in the state.

A video of the assault went viral on social media, which reignited the language debate in Maharashtra.

CM Fadanvis denied the allegations

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis rejected the allegations that the Police didn’t permit the rally.

“In Maharashtra, everyone has the right to take out a protest march. Anyone can do after taking police permission. There are traffic issues, stampede risks etc. The police commissioner told me they (MNS leaders) were asked to change the route, but they were adamant. So police stopped them,” he said.

Taking a jibe at Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray, the duo brothers who reunited after two decades, the CM said, “I think I know Maharashtra’s mood. Such experiments won’t work here. A Marathi has a large heart. He does not think small.”

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