
Marathi row: Duo forced to apologise to man over assault, slapped in presence of Sena (UBT) leader
"Speak in Marathi since you have hit a Marathi person," a voice is heard telling one of the two men while he tries to say something to Vichare, a former MP from Thane.
The video purportedly shows Vichare seated in his office surrounded by supporters, and the duo and a man in a red shirt. One by one, the two bow to touch the feet of the man and apologise to him. The man even slaps one of them in the widely shared video.

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Hans India
an hour ago
- Hans India
Thackeray brothers to address joint victory rally today to celebrate Maha govt's turnaround on Hindi from Grade 1
Mumbai: Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray will on Saturday participate in a joint victory rally organised by the Shiv Sena (UBT) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), in Worli Dome to celebrate the MahaYuti government's decision to withdraw two government resolutions on the introduction of Hindi from Classes 1 to 5. It will be the first joint rally of the Thackeray cousin brothers Uddhav and Raj, after the split in the Shiv Sena in 2005. Amid talks of coming together ahead of the upcoming BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections slated to be held within the next six months, Uddhav and Raj have decided to jointly rake up the issues of Marathi language and 'Marathi Manoos' in a serious bid to corner the BJP-led MahaYuti government in Maharashtra. Both the parties have decided not to display party flags and banners but the Shiv Sainiks and ManSainiks have worked hard to put up a major show of strength on Saturday. Uddhav and Raj Thackeray will be seen on the same platform as they will reach the joint rally venue at 11.30 A.M. Before they speak, the Communist leader Prakash Reddy, the Peasants and Workers Party of India leader Jayant Patil and NCP (SP) leader and party MP Supriya Sule will address the rally. Incidentally, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar has conveyed his inability to be part of the joint rally due to prior engagements but said his party is against the imposition of Hindi in Maharashtra. The senior Pawar chose to stay away so that the focus will remain on both the Thackeray brothers. The Congress has decided not to join the rally especially due to differences with Raj Thackeray's protests against Hindi speaking people, especially North Indians. Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS sources said that if the Congress decides to join at the last moment the party representative will be given an opportunity to address the joint rally. Big screens have been installed inside and outside the joint rally venue as the organisers expect a big turnout. Both the Thackeray cousins have said that the issue of imposition of Hindi is not yet over as the government's move to appoint the Narendra Jadhav committee is meaningless and they will continue to oppose the introduction of Hindi.


Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
Meet the latest MNS leaders enforcing Marathi one slap at a time
Among the seven Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) supporters booked by police in Mira Bhayandar, Thane district, on the charges of assaulting a shopkeeper after demanding that he speak in Marathi, three are office-bearers or active members of the party. Identified via video footage of the incident, which is part of the investigation, the three are members of the MNS Mira Bhayandar unit, led by its 'City Chief' Sandeep Rane. In addition to registering an FIR, the police Friday also initiated proceedings against the seven, requiring them to sign bonds promising not to engage in any criminal activity. Senior Inspector Rajendra Kambale of Kashimira Police Station said preventive notices have been served on the seven and investigation is on to verify the sequence of events. The Mira Bhayandar incident follows several such incidents involving MNS workers. In December last year, some of its activists slapped a shopkeeper at Girgaon in south Mumbai, a day after he allegedly asked a woman to speak to him in Marwari instead of Marathi. No complaint was lodged in the incident. In March this year, MNS workers were accused of slapping an employee of a leading supermarket store in Mumbai for not speaking in Marathi. The following month, MNS chief Raj Thackeray said at a Gudi Padwa rally that Marathi should be made mandatory for all official purposes in the state, and said people should not hesitate to slap anyone who refuses to speak Marathi. The same month, police in Powai, Mumbai, booked three MNS members and a grocery app delivery agent for allegedly slapping a security guard of a Powai residential society for not speaking in Marathi. They also forced the guard to apologise, the police complaint stated. In June, MNS workers attacked an auto-rickshaw driver in Mumbai and forced him to apologise for allegedly using objectionable language against a Marathi-speaking passenger as well as Raj Thackeray. The matters are in court. Following the latest incident, Rane, the Mira Bhayandar MNS chief, said the shop owner was to blame as he started arguing with his party workers who were celebrating the withdrawal of the three-language policy order by the government, and insulted the Marathi language. 'We do not support the assault, but at the same time, we will also not tolerate the insult of Marathi language and Marathi-speaking people,' Rane said. MNS spokesperson Sandip Deshpande claimed the same. Asked about the FIRs against MNS workers, he said the law had to take its course, 'but we will not tolerate the insult of Marathi'. The three MNS leaders behind latest case: The 'Deputy City Chief' of the MNS in the Mira Bhayandar region, Kandangire has been active in the party for the past six years, regularly organising protests and political activities in the area. He is considered a close aide of Sandeep Rane, and is frequently seen with him at party events. There are also photographs of Kandangire with MNS chief Raj Thackeray and his son Amit Thackeray on several occasions. Kandangire, who is married, runs a 'labour supply' and 'real estate services' business. Police records show he was previously booked in a case of obstructing a public servant during Covid-19. He was part of a group of MNS workers who allegedly created disturbance at the Vasai Virar Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation office, accusing civic officials of consuming alcohol on duty. After the FIR was filed against him, Kandangire posted on social media: 'I have many non-Marathi-speaking friends… and they respect Marathi-speaking people and Marathi language. But there are some who despise Marathi language and Marathi people. They should always be shown their place.' Nilekat is the 'District Organiser' of the MNS's Vaahtuk Sena (transport wing). Also associated with the party for several years, he like Kandangire has been actively involved in the MNS's organisational work in the Mira Bhayandar region. He also took part in the Maratha quota agitation, and is seen as close to Rane. Nilekat, who is married, runs an outlet selling pastries, cakes and ice-cream in Mira Bhayandar. There are no previous police cases registered against him. A party worker who lives in Dahisar, Mumbai, unlike the other two who are based in Mira Bhayandar, Dalvi, who is married, is employed with a private firm. He too has been active in the Mira Bhayandar unit of the MNS, organising party activities. He has no other cases registered against him.


Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
Raj-Uddhav Thackeray Rally Live Updates: After nearly two decades, Thackeray cousins reunite for ‘victory' rally after Maharashtra govt's U-turn on Hindi policy
Raj Thackeray-Uddhav Thackeray Rally Today Live Updates: Estranged cousins Uddhav Thackeray and his cousin Raj Thackeray will be sharing the stage for the first time in nearly two decades at the joint 'victory' rally, to celebrate the BJP-led Mahayuti government's rollback of two contentious Government Resolutions (GRs) on the three-language policy in Maharashtra. Called Marathi Vijay Diwas, the event is being organised by the Shiv Sena (UBT) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) in Worli. Why is the rally being organised? The rally marks a political victory for the two parties after Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis revoked two GRs that had introduced Hindi as a third language in primary schools. The first GR made Hindi a mandatory third language for students from Class 1 to 5, while the second had made it optional. The CM had also announced the formation of Narendra Jadhav committee to reexamine the three-language policy.