"Not Wrong To Be Proud Of Marathi Language, But...": Maharashtra CM Fadnavis On Language Row

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ remarks come after a group of men wearing Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) scarves allegedly beat up a food stall owner for not speaking in Marathi.

(Photo : ANI)

Amid the intensifying language row in Maharashtra, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday said that it is not wrong to be proud of the Marathi language. However, he added that the state government will not tolerate hooliganism in the name of language.

"It is not wrong to be proud of the Marathi language in Maharashtra. But if someone indulges in hooliganism due to language, we will not tolerate it. If someone beats up people on the basis of language, this will not be tolerated," ANI quoted CM Fadnavis as saying. 

Chief Minister Fadnavis warned that legal action would be taken against anyone creating hooliganism in the name of language in the future. 

"The police have filed an FIR and taken action on the incident, and if anyone creates such a language dispute in future, legal action will be taken. We are proud of our Marathi, but injustice cannot be done to any language of India in this manner; we will have to keep this in mind. And sometimes I am 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 taken against those who take the law into their own hands," ANI quoted CM Fadnavis as saying. 

Chief Minister Fadnavis's statement came days after a food stall owner was allegedly beaten up by a group of men wearing Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) scarves for not speaking in Marathi.

Earlier on Thursday, Maharashtra Minister Yogesh Kadam said that you have to speak Marathi in Maharashtra.

"In Maharashtra, you have to speak Marathi. If you don't know Marathi, your attitude shouldn't be that you won't speak Marathi. If anyone disrespects Marathi in Maharashtra, we will enforce our laws,” ANI quoted Kadam as saying.

Minister Kadam also criticised the people involved in the assault of the food stall owner, saying that they should not have taken the law into their own hands.

“Those who beat up (the shop owner) should not take the law into their own hands. They should have filed a complaint against the concerned person; action would have been taken," he said.

Police have registered an FIR in connection with the assault of the food stall owner.

Thane Food Stall Incident

The incident took place on Tuesday when a man asked the food stall owner to speak in Marathi while shopping. When the shop owner refused, the man got angry and started shouting at him. Meanwhile, his friends also joined in and they beat up the shop owner.