'Do Aamir Khan, Javed Akhtar speak in Marathi?': Maharashtra minister Nitish Rane slams assaults over language; issues 'third eye' warning
NEW DELHI: Days after a group of men allegedly affiliated with the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena ( MNS ) assaulted a shopkeeper in Mira Road for not speaking Marathi, state minister Nitesh Rane said, "we will not tolerate this."
Reacting to the incident, Rane said, “If they have the courage, go to Null Bazaar , Mohammed Ali Road and tell people there to speak Marathi. It’s a Hindu government—we will not tolerate this.”
“Do Javed Akhtar, Aamir Khan speak in Marathi?", he said.
The remarks came amid growing criticism over the assault, which took place Tuesday morning at a sweet shop in Mira Road.
A video of the incident went viral, showing a man—identified as the shop owner Babulal Khimji Chaudhary—being slapped after an argument over language.
‘They asked for water, then slapped me’
According to the FIR filed at Kashimira police station, seven unidentified men, allegedly wearing MNS badges, entered the shop around 10.30am asking for water. A worker, who reportedly hails from another state, responded in Hindi—sparking a heated exchange.
“They said I need to know Marathi if I want to work here. When I said that people in Maharashtra speak many languages, they got angrier and slapped me,” Chaudhary told police.
“They recorded the video and circulated it online,” he added.
The men allegedly insisted that all workers in the state must know Marathi.
MNS defends workers, blames ‘arrogance’
An MNS office-bearer defended the group, claiming the shopkeeper was “arrogant” and had provoked the argument by saying all languages were spoken in Maharashtra.
The men had earlier been at Balaji Park to celebrate the state government's withdrawal of its three-language formula, which had triggered opposition protests over possible “Hindi imposition”.
Police have registered a case against the unidentified assailants and are verifying the video and identities.
Reacting to the incident, Rane said, “If they have the courage, go to Null Bazaar , Mohammed Ali Road and tell people there to speak Marathi. It’s a Hindu government—we will not tolerate this.”
“Do Javed Akhtar, Aamir Khan speak in Marathi?", he said.
The remarks came amid growing criticism over the assault, which took place Tuesday morning at a sweet shop in Mira Road.
A video of the incident went viral, showing a man—identified as the shop owner Babulal Khimji Chaudhary—being slapped after an argument over language.
‘They asked for water, then slapped me’
According to the FIR filed at Kashimira police station, seven unidentified men, allegedly wearing MNS badges, entered the shop around 10.30am asking for water. A worker, who reportedly hails from another state, responded in Hindi—sparking a heated exchange.
“They said I need to know Marathi if I want to work here. When I said that people in Maharashtra speak many languages, they got angrier and slapped me,” Chaudhary told police.
“They recorded the video and circulated it online,” he added.
The men allegedly insisted that all workers in the state must know Marathi.
MNS defends workers, blames ‘arrogance’
An MNS office-bearer defended the group, claiming the shopkeeper was “arrogant” and had provoked the argument by saying all languages were spoken in Maharashtra.
The men had earlier been at Balaji Park to celebrate the state government's withdrawal of its three-language formula, which had triggered opposition protests over possible “Hindi imposition”.
Police have registered a case against the unidentified assailants and are verifying the video and identities.
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