In a dramatic twist, a Shiv Sena minister tried to join the opposition Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) protest in Thane amidst a brewing language debate in the state. The protest, organized by MNS leader Raj Thackeray, was met with chaos as MNS workers were detained by the police. The protest centered around the controversial 'slapgate' incident, in which MNS workers assaulted a food stall owner for speaking Hindi instead of Marathi.
In the midst of the protests, Pratap Sarnaik, a Shiv Sena minister, attempted to join the demonstration but was heckled by MNS workers and forced to leave the site. The incident added another layer to the political conflict surrounding the language issue. MNS workers, who were protesting the actions of the police in blocking their rally, expressed frustration over what they saw as discriminatory treatment in comparison to protests allowed for other groups.
While Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis defended the police's actions, stating that the protest march was halted due to safety concerns and traffic issues, the language debate continued to escalate. Fadnavis further dismissed the allegations, asserting that anyone can protest with the right permissions, and questioned the intentions behind such actions.
The heart of the controversy lies in the 'slapgate' incident, where a shopkeeper in Mira Road, Babulal Chaudhary, was assaulted by MNS workers for allowing his staff to speak Hindi to customers. This incident has reignited the long-standing debate about the dominance of Marathi as the preferred language in Maharashtra, drawing attention to the political divide between the Thackeray cousins Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray who have recently reunited to challenge the BJP's policies.
As tensions rise, BJP leader Nishikant Dubey criticized the Thackerays for targeting Hindi speakers, while Uddhav Thackeray accused the BJP of using divide-and-rule politics. He clarified that he opposes the imposition of any language by force but supports respect for all languages. This escalating conflict underscores the complexities of Maharashtra's political landscape and how issues like language continue to shape the dynamics between the state’s political players, from local parties to national forces like the BJP.
