Mumbai: The ongoing discourse around linguistic identity in Maharashtra intensified in Mira Road after members of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) allegedly assaulted a shopkeeper for not speaking Marathi. The incident took place near Balaji Hotel, where MNS workers,  including Mira Bhayandar Deputy Mayor Karan Kandangire, confronted the owner of Jodhpur Sweets after he responded in Hindi.

As per reports, the MNS workers had stopped at the shop to ask for water. When the shopkeeper replied in Hindi, they demanded he speak Marathi, the state’s regional language. Upon his refusal, a verbal altercation escalated into physical violence. The MNS workers accused him of insulting Maharashtra’s language and cultural identity. A video of the confrontation has since gone viral on social media.

This episode unfolds amid broader unrest over the perceived dominance of Hindi in the state. Just a day before the legislative session, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis withdrew two government resolutions mandating Hindi, a decision that was welcomed by pro-Marathi groups and celebrated by MNS workers across Maharashtra, including in Mira Bhayandar.

However, the Mira Road incident has reignited tensions. Following the altercation, MNS workers issued a warning to migrants, urging them to honor the local language and culture or be prepared to face consequences.

Meanwhile, the Kashimira Police have registered an FIR against the MNS workers involved, invoking multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code. Authorities have initiated a probe and appealed to all communities to maintain peace and harmony. DeshGujarat