Two individuals accused of assaulting a man were compelled to apologise to him in the presence of Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and former Member of Parliament (MP) Rajan Vichare, as seen in a viral video. The clip, reportedly filmed at Vichare’s Thane-based office, shows the duo bowing to touch the victim's feet and offering apologies, one even being slapped by the man during the encounter.
A voice in the video can be heard insisting, “Speak in Marathi since you have hit a Marathi person,” as one of the accused attempts to address Vichare.
According to the police report, the altercation stemmed from a dispute over a mobile recharge near Thane railway station on Tuesday (July 1), footage of which also circulated widely online. The two were summoned to Vichare’s office on Thursday (July 3) following the incident. The episode unfolds amid a spate of cases where individuals in Maharashtra have allegedly been targeted by political workers, particularly from the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), for not speaking Marathi.
Check the viral video
In a video posted on social media, the Sena UBT leader and his subordinates repeatedly demanded that the traders converse only in Marathi, raising serious concerns about the safety of the business community.
Check the last such incident in Maharashtra
The latest incident comes close on the heels of the Mira-Bhayandar episode, where Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) workers brutally attacked a restaurant owner for not using Marathi while interacting with customers.
However, the Mira-Bhayandar business community responded swiftly, shutting down several shops in protest against the rising threats and violence in the name of language.
After the MNS assault, shops across Mira-Bhayandar were down on July 3 morning with images of deserted streets and closed markets going viral on social media.
Various traders across the state expressed anxiety about their safety, saying such incidents are hurting communal harmony and business sentiment.
