Members of Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) were detained during a protest march in Thane amid rising tensions over a language dispute in Maharashtra. The party alleged that the state government was preventing the “Marathi people’s march.” While the MNS initially received permission for the protest, the government later revoked it due to the party’s insistence on following a specific route. Prohibitory orders were imposed to restrict public assembly, leading to the detentions and accusations from the MNS.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis clarified that the protest was allowed, but the police had authority over the route selection to ensure proper crowd and traffic management. Fadnavis explained that the MNS workers refused to take an alternate route suggested by the police, which resulted in the denial of permission for the march. He emphasized that the mood in Maharashtra is understanding and cautioned against divisive actions, stating, “Marathis are big-hearted people, not narrow-minded.
“The protest by MNS came in response to a recent demonstration by traders against an alleged assault on a shop owner by men reportedly wearing MNS scarves for refusing to speak Marathi. Prior to the protest, local MNS leader Avinash Jadhav, who heads the party’s Thane and Palghar units, was detained from his home. Police reports indicate that Jadhav faces 28 cognizable offence cases. This police action highlights the ongoing conflict between the Maharashtra government and the opposition over language-related issues. Incidents involving violence against individuals for not speaking Marathi have increased recently. The controversy further intensified after the government introduced a mandate making Hindi a compulsory third language in primary schools, a decision later withdrawn following backlash from opposition parties and language advocacy groups.
