The ongoing debate over the Marathi language in Maharashtra has taken a new turn as NDTV reporter Sujata Dwivedi engaged in a heated exchange with Reshma Tapase, the state vice-president of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). The interaction, which has since gone viral, highlights the party’s controversial stance on language enforcement. The MNS recently made headlines after its workers allegedly assaulted a shopkeeper in Thane for not speaking Marathi, sparking widespread criticism.

During the interview, Ms. Tapase asserted that the MNS would pursue sedition charges against those who do not respect the Marathi language. This statement came amid accusations against her party members for using violence to enforce language compliance. When questioned about these allegations, Ms. Tapase downplayed the seriousness of the charges, stating that such cases were not significant and were part of their commitment to Marathi and Maharashtra. She emphasized that anyone residing in Maharashtra should decide whether to speak Marathi.

The conversation took an intriguing turn when Ms. Dwivedi asked Ms. Tapase how she would react if she were required to speak a specific language while visiting another state. Citing Karnataka as an example, where similar language issues have arisen, Ms. Dwivedi challenged the practicality of such rigid linguistic policies. In response, Ms. Tapase admitted she had not visited Karnataka due to her lack of knowledge of Kannada, sparking further debate.

The exchange continued with Ms. Dwivedi probing Ms. Tapase on her language skills and travel habits. Ms. Tapase revealed she speaks English, Hindi, and Marathi but insisted that Hindi is neither her language nor the national language. The conversation highlighted the complexities of language politics in India and raised questions about linguistic diversity and regional identity.

The viral video has drawn significant attention on social media platform X, with many users applauding Ms. Dwivedi for her incisive questioning and challenging the MNS leader’s defense of violence in the name of language preservation.