Violence Against Hindi-Speaking People in Maharashtra Sparks Political Firestorm

Mumbai: Amid a surge in attacks on Hindi-speaking individuals across Maharashtra, BJP leader and Mumbai unit president Ashish Shelar has drawn a provocative comparison between these incidents and the Pahalgam terror attack, accusing the opposition of silently endorsing linguistic violence.

The remarks follow a fresh controversy triggered by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) activists, who vandalized the office of Mumbai-based share market investor Sushil Kedia in Worli after he publicly stated he wouldn’t speak Marathi.

“Shelar alleged that, just like terrorists in Pahalgam asked for people’s religion before shooting them, MNS workers are attacking people based on the language they speak — calling it ‘deeply disappointing’ and politically motivated.”

Bhojpuri Star Challenges MNS

Popular actor and BJP MP Dinesh Lal Yadav ‘Nirahua’ challenged the Thackeray cousins, daring them to evict him for speaking Bhojpuri instead of Marathi. “If you have the courage, drive me out. I speak Bhojpuri and I’m staying in Mumbai,” he said, slamming what he called targeted harassment of the poor and migrants.

Thackeray Cousins Reunite, BJP Feels Heat

The controversy coincides with the politically symbolic reunion of Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray after nearly two decades, as they shared the stage to oppose the imposition of Hindi in Maharashtra. This rare display of unity is seen by analysts as an attempt to consolidate the Marathi vote bank ahead of civic elections.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut claimed the Mahayuti coalition, including CM Devendra Fadnavis, is “unnerved” by the Thackerays’ comeback. Mocking Fadnavis’s “rudali” comment about Uddhav’s speech, Raut quipped, “It’s time for the Mahayuti to start their own mourning programme.”

Raut also drew parallels with Tamil Nadu CM M.K. Stalin’s vocal opposition to Hindi imposition, indicating a broader anti-centralisation sentiment.

MNS-Sena Unity Under Fire

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena leader and minister Pratap Sarnaik attempted to discredit the Thackeray cousins’ alliance, accusing them of trying to reclaim control over the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) — India’s richest civic body.

In a letter to Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, Sarnaik credited him for securing classical language status for Marathi and said MNS and UBT Sena have shown no real commitment to Marathi interests in the past. “If they love Marathi so much, why did they split years ago?” he asked.

Sarnaik claimed that during the Sena’s 25-year BMC rule, the Marathi manoos was driven out of key sectors like hospitality, real estate, and jewellery — and voters wouldn’t forget this.

Shelar Predicts Poor Show for Uddhav-Raj Alliance

Calling the linguistic violence “a disgrace,” BJP’s Ashish Shelar distanced his party from politicising the Marathi language, adding, “Marathi is not a political issue for us.”

He predicted that the MNS-UBT Sena alliance would perform worse in the upcoming municipal elections compared to their previous outings.

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