Praveen Kumar Teotia, a former elite commando involved in the 26/11 counter-terrorist operation, has invoked the words of Pakistan’s national poet Allama Iqbal to emphasize unity amidst a heated language debate in Maharashtra. In an interview with NDTV, Teotia highlighted the importance of national cohesion, stating, “The dream of a developed India will only come true when we will walk together with one language. And we say ‘Hindi hain hum, watan hai Hindustan hamara (Indians we are, India is our land).” Maharashtra has recently been at the center of controversy due to incidents of violence targeting Hindi-speaking migrants. The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), led by Raj Thackeray, has been accused of attacking these individuals, sparking public outrage. Teotia expressed his dismay over the situation, recalling similar events from 2008 when MNS workers targeted North Indians, including those from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Teotia urged politicians to focus on development rather than sowing division. He criticized those who exploit such issues for political gain, emphasizing that Mumbai, a city where he once served and shed blood during the 26/11 attacks, should not be a battleground for linguistic disputes. He noted that even now, MNS workers have been accused of threatening bank employees in Mumbai. The controversy began when traders in Mumbai were allegedly attacked for not speaking Marathi. The MNS has been vocal about promoting Marathi in public spaces and has criticized those who do not speak the language. Raj Thackeray has insisted on the importance of learning Marathi in Maharashtra. Teotia cited the defense forces as an example of unity, where Hindi serves as a common language regardless of one’s state of origin. He stressed that whether from Kashmir or Kanyakumari, Hindi remains a unifying factor for all Indians.