CM Devendra Fadnavis reacts to Marathi slapgate row
CM Devendra Fadnavis reacts to Marathi slapgate row
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has come down heavily and condemned the recent assault on a shopkeeper in Thane by members of Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). He termed the incident a case of “hooliganism in the name of language” and ensuring a strict legal action.
Reacting to the incident, CM Fadnavis transmitted a firm message, that “It isn’t wrong to be proud of the Marathi language in Maharashtra. But if someone indulges in hooliganism due to language, it will not be tolerated. If someone takes law into their hands and beat up people on the basis of language, they will not remain silent.
It’s nauseating that these people embrace English.
Fadnavis also confirmed that the police had filed an FIR and taken action, and warned of strict consequences if such incidents recur.
He further added that they are proud of Marathi, but injustice cannot be done to any language of India in this manner; this will have to be kept in mind. And sometimes he gets surprised that these people embrace English and create disputes over Hindi. What kind of thinking is this and what kind of action is this? Therefore, strict action will be initiated against those who take the law into their own hands.
Reportedly the incident came to light after a video went viral on July 1, showing MNS workers confronting and attacking a sweetmeat shop owner for allegedly refusing to speak in Marathi. The disturbing footage shows three men entering the store and questioning the shopkeeper about his language preferences.
When asked why he wasn’t speaking Marathi, the shopkeeper calmly replied, he wasn’t versed with Marathi being compulsory. Someone will have to teach him. One of the men then warned him, Do you want to get beaten which was followed by a violent assault.
The attackers slapped the shopkeeper multiple times, hurled abuse, and threatened to shut down his business. When the shopkeeper responded that all languages are spoken in Maharashtra, the comment appeared to enrage the men further.
News Edit KV Raman
