In Thane’s Mira-Bhayandar area, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) members allegedly assaulted a local sweet stall owner for querying the compulsory use of Marathi. According to the victim, the assailants - claiming state authority - demanded he "speak Marathi if you live in Maharashtra," then slapped him repeatedly when he responded that people there speak many languages.

A disturbing video capturing the incident has gone viral, showing the MNS activists intimidating and physically assaulting the shopkeeper while others record the scene. The shopkeeper emphasized he and his workers often speak Marathi but were harassed simply for asking, “Why should we speak Marathi?” .

Police registered a case against seven MNS workers at the Kashimira police station on July 1. This confrontation reflects a growing pattern of linguistic aggression, aligning with the party’s recent push against Hindi imposition and its historical campaigns targeting non-Marathi-speaking communities.

The incident has reignited broader debates in Maharashtra about cultural identity, linguistic tolerance, and the rights of migrants and non-Marathi speakers in the state.