A hawker was allegedly beaten up by the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navinirman Sena (MNS) workers in Badlapur town of Thane district on Monday for allegedly making objectionable remarks about Marathi language and its speakers, reported the PTI.

A video of the incident went viral on social media. It showed Maharashtra Navnirman Sena workers shouting slogans condemning the hawker, thrashing him and then making him apologise in public.

A police official said that a probe has begun on the basis of the viral video.

No complaint has been received from the hawker, the official added, according to the PTI.

Meanwhile, earlier, in July this year, tensions had flared in Mira Bhayandar, near Mumbai, as hundreds of joined a march led by the MNS and other pro-Marathi organisations to defend Marathi ‘asmita’ (pride), following a incident in which a shopkeeper was assaulted for refusing to speak Marathi.

A shopkeeper was beaten up by MNS workers for not speaking Marathi.

The MNS had been demanding that traders and shopkeepers in the city speak Marathi.

The controversy began when some traders were allegedly attacked by MNS workers for not speaking Marathi.

In July, several protesters were detained, including local MNS leaders and later released. The rally, which began around noon, culminated near Mira Road railway station, but tensions continued in the area.

The police had earlier denied permission for the rally, citing intelligence inputs and potential law and order issues. Despite this, the MNS workers went ahead with their protest, leading to their detention by the police, reported ANI.

The protest was organised under the banner of Marathi Ekikaran Samiti.

The event was meant to counter a demonstration held earlier by traders angered by a viral video showing an MNS worker slapping a food stall owner for not speaking Marathi.

The protest also saw women and youth activists holding “Mi Marathi” placards and flags. 

The MNS has been advocating for the use of Marathi in public places and has been critical of those who do not speak the language. The party`s chief, Raj Thackeray, has been vocal about the need for people to learn and speak Marathi, especially in Maharashtra.

(with PTI inputs)

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