Amid violence towards Hindi-speaking individuals, Maharashtra minister and BJP chief Ashish Shelar on Sunday (July 6, 2025) drew parallels between the Pahalgam terror assault and the beating of “Hindus” in Mumbai in a veiled assault on the reunion of the Thackeray cousins.
The senior BJP chief’s remarks come amid an outrage attributable to Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) activists thrashing a candy store proprietor within the Mumbai Metropolitan Area for not talking Marathi.
On Saturday, MNS staff broken the glass door of Mumbai-based share market investor Sushil Kedia’s workplace in Worli after he declared he wouldn’t converse Marathi and dared the celebration chief Raj Thackeray.
The row over talking Marathi is escalating into a serious political flashpoint forward of the civic polls.
“Within the Pahalgam terror assault, individuals have been requested about their faith [by terrorists] earlier than taking pictures them. Right here, individuals are being attacked primarily based on their language, which is disappointing.
“The state is watching how these leaders are having fun with different Hindus being crushed up,” Mr. Shelar instructed reporters when requested about assaults on Hindi-speaking individuals allegedly by MNS staff.
With MNS resorting to street-fighting over Marathi, actor and singer Dinesh Lal Yadav, popularly referred to as Nirahua, has dared the Thackeray cousins to drive him out of Maharashtra for talking in Bhojpuri.
“I’m giving an open problem. I don’t converse Marathi. I converse Bhojpuri, and I’m staying in Maharashtra. Why are you driving poor individuals out? You probably have the braveness then drive me out. I’m supplying you with a problem, even in Mumbai,” he instructed reporters.
Uddhav and Raj Thackeray shared a stage after almost 20 years for the reason for the Marathi language and vowed to oppose the “imposition” of Hindi in Maharashtra after the state authorities rolled again the GRs on the introduction of Hindi as a 3rd language in major colleges.
Slamming the BJP, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut stated the approaching collectively of the Thackerays has unnerved ruling Mahayuti leaders, together with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
Focusing on Fadnavis who had claimed that Uddhav Thackeray delivered a “rudali” (skilled mourner) like speech on the joint rally, Raut stated, “Fadnavis and [Deputy CM Eknath] Shinde ought to begin a weeping programme now [with the two Thackeray brothers coming together]”.
After the rally, Mr. Raut stated, leaders from a number of south Indian states, significantly Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Ok Stalin, have asserted that they will battle the Centre and “overthrow the imposition of Hindi”.
Because the row over true custodians of Marathi escalated, Shiv Sena MLA and Maharashtra minister Pratap Sarnaik on Sunday credited Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde for giving justice to Marathi manoos and making certain classical language standing for the Marathi language by following up with the Centre.
In a letter to Mr. Shinde, Mr. Sarnaik acknowledged that individuals are smart to grasp that the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the MNS have come collectively to win energy within the Mumbai civic physique and never within the curiosity of Marathi.
He stated the Sena (undivided) managed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Company (BMC) for 25 years and through this era, the Marathi manoos was pushed out of the resort business, actual property, and gold and silver jewelry outlets.
“Individuals are smart sufficient to know that they (Sena UBT and MNS) have come to win energy within the BMC. Their [the Sena UBT’s] soul is caught within the coffers of the BMC. UBT’s politics has been very egocentric, pretend and treacherous. Which is why UBT’s colleagues are abandoning the celebration,” Mr. Sarnaik stated.
“The MNS and the Sena (UBT) maintain saying that they’ve come collectively within the curiosity of Marathi. So, for whose curiosity did they separate years in the past? There isn’t a love for Marathi, its tradition and language, and Marathi manoos,” he added.
Mr. Shelar, in the meantime, stated the assaults on Hindi-speaking individuals allegedly by MNS staff have been disappointing and asserted “Marathi will not be a political situation for us.” He stated the Shiv Sena (UBT) and its allies would carry out poorly within the upcoming civic elections.
“In comparison with the earlier elections, they may win fewer seats. They’re going to lose,” he added.
Revealed – July 07, 2025 10:57 am IST
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