There have been 3 times over the previous few days where people belonging to Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) have roughed up non-Maharashtrian citizens in the country for not speaking Marathi. The violent incidents follow Raj Thackeray’s warned non-Marathi speakers to return to the Marathi language, which he highlighted throughout his annual Gudi Padwa rally at Shivaji Park.
At the Gudi Padwa rally, the MNS leader warned that people that do not talk Marathi in Maharashtra could get a “slap on their face”. He advised MNS employees to visit banks and other establishments to test whether Marathi was being used.
Raj Thackeray’s warned non-Marathi speakers
Following his “orders”, MNS employees, in groups of 6 to 7, have been traveling housing societies, banks and shops to “enforce” Marathi use. If everyone is unable to speak in Marathi and argues with the group, they may be overwhelmed up.
A protection protect of a housing society in Mumbai and a bank employee in Lonavala were roughed up lately. The men had been coerced into apologizing in the front of cameras and promising that they could learn Marathi.
Violence Occurs on linguistic sentiments
Such procedures by MNS aren’t sudden at a time while the party is suffering to live to tell the story in Maharashtra politics. Currently, there isn’t always a single MP, MLA, or corporator from the MNS. Raj Thackeray’s warned non-Marathi speakers and cause violence. Through those violent acts based on linguistic sentiments, the MNS hopes to create a buzz around itself before the BMC polls scheduled for later this year.
The push also comes at a time while each factions of the Shiv Sena, led through Eknath Shinde and Uddhav Thackeray, are not focus on the “Marathi purpose”. The MNS is sensing an opportunity to fill that space. The party tasted a few success in 2009 while it contested the assembly elections in the backdrop of anti-North Indian riots.