
The language controversy was rekindled when an employee of Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) allegedly attacked an elderly North Indian restaurant owner on Mumbai’s Mira Road for failing to speak Marathi. On social media, the MNS Slaps Owner video has gone viral.
Three men who are purportedly MNS employees can be seen arguing angrily with the owner in the widely shared video. The men start slapping the vendor as their argument becomes more heated.
Here’s what happened:
One of the MNS employees is seen in the widely shared video asking the owner why he was doubting the necessity of speaking the local tongue.
“Why should we speak in Marathi?” the owner had asked.
“Maar khayaga?” said another party worker shortly after.
It is audible that the proprietor claims not to speak Marathi.
The vendor was then asked by the MNS staff if he was familiar with the state and language of the state in which he was working.
“Every language is spoken here,” the proprietor joked.
The MNS employees were upset by this and repeatedly slapped and mistreated him.
“Hindi is not superior to Marathi,” said MNS chief Raj Thackeray
Recently, MNS chief Raj Thackeray declared that attempts to elevate Hindi above the older Marathi language would not be accepted.
He made this statement in opposition to the “imposition of Hindi” as a third language in Maharashtra schools’ elementary curriculum.
“They are attempting to portray the 150–200 year-old Hindi language as superior to the more than 3,000-year-old Marathi language. I will not tolerate this,” Thackeray declared.
In a nation with such linguistic diversity, he questioned the validity of designating Hindi as the national language. “Other states should not be forced to adopt Hindi as their national language. Coercion like this is wrong.
The state cabinet on Sunday decided to revoke two GRs (government orders) on the implementation of the three-language policy in response to growing opposition to the introduction of Hindi in Maharashtra schools from classes 1 through 5.