Incident at Nanded Bus Stop

A recent incident at a bus stop in Nanded, Maharashtra, has sparked controversy after a man was assaulted by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) workers for refusing to speak Marathi. The altercation began when the man confronted a worker at a public toilet, questioning why women were being charged Rs 5 to use the facilities. As he recorded the interaction, the worker refused to disclose his name and asked the man to leave, prompting a heated exchange about language use.

Confrontation Over Language

The situation escalated when the man insisted that the worker speak in Marathi. The worker’s refusal led to further tension, with the man threatening to report the incident to MNS chief Raj Thackeray. The confrontation highlighted ongoing tensions in Maharashtra over language use, particularly amid protests by MNS and Shiv Sena against what they perceive as “Hindi imposition” under the state’s three-language policy.

Assault Captured on Video

The following day, a video surfaced showing the worker being surrounded and assaulted by several men wearing MNS scarves. The men demanded that he apologize for not speaking Marathi and accused him of disrespecting women. Despite his attempts to apologize and explain, the worker was forced to repeat an apology in Marathi, pledging not to repeat his actions.

Political Reactions and Public Outcry

The incident has drawn widespread condemnation from political leaders, including Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who criticized the use of violence over language issues. Meanwhile, Raj Thackeray expressed support for his party members’ actions, framing them as a defense of Marathi pride. This incident is part of a broader pattern of language-related confrontations in Maharashtra, reflecting deep-seated cultural and political tensions.