'Feel proud of my soldiers…’: Raj Thackeray on MNS workers attacking against those with 'anti-Marathi' views

The MNS chief’s comments came a day after a video of MNS workers slapping a shopkeeper in Mumbai's Vikhroli surfaced online

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on July 18 (Friday) defended his party workers, saying he is proud of his "soldiers" and their "befitting response" to “Marathi-haters” that stems from their "love" for the local language.

The MNS chief’s comments came a day after a video of MNS workers slapping a shopkeeper in Mumbai's Vikhroli surfaced online, among several such cases of assaults on those allegedly against the Marathi-speaking community.

In a post on X, Thackeray referred to the political controversy over “violent clash” between workers of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) inside the Vidhan Bhavan a day before.

He asked why there was no outrage over incidents allegedly insulting the Marathi language.

"Yesterday, I saw a video of a violent clash between the workers of the ruling party MLAs and the opposition MLAs in the Vidhan Bhavan area. Seeing this video, I really wondered, 'what has happened to our Maharashtra?' I will ask the Marathi people, 'in whose hands have they handed over Maharashtra?'" Thackeray said in Marathi in a post on X.

He further said, “If my soldiers of Maharashtra raise their hands for the Marathi language and Marathi people, then where are those who are angry with them and our party, hiding now?"

Thackeray went on to say that he “feels proud” of his “soldiers of Maharashtra slap that person”, adding, this was not out of “personal jealousy” but for the language and the Marathi people.

"When someone tries to drive a nail into the throat of the Marathi people, I feel proud that my soldiers of Maharashtra slap that person, not out of personal jealousy, rather for my language and my Marathi people," he said in his post.

The viral video that surfaced on Thursday shows MNS workers assaulting a Vikroli-based Marwadi shopkeeper after he allegedly posted a WhatsApp status "insulting the Marathi Manoos (Marathi-speaking people)".

The incident took place outside his shop, where the MNS members confronted him, physically assaulted him, and forced him to issue a public apology to the entire Marathi community.

According to reports, the victim, a Rajasthani shopkeeper, had posted a WhatsApp status that read: "Dekh liya Rajasthani ka power. Hum Marwari hamare saamne kisi ki nahi chalti (Witnessed the power of a Rajasthani. No one can stand before us Marwaris)."

The viral video shows a group of MNS workers confronting the shopkeeper outside his store. The video shows the man being slapped and verbally berated. The workers demanded he apologise to the Marathi community for his remarks. In the footage, the shopkeeper is seen holding his ears, and pleading, "I will not repeat such a mistake."

This video came only a few days after MNS members were captured on camera allegedly assaulting a food stall owner in Thane for not speaking in Marathi, reported NDTV.

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis had took cognisance of the incident saying Marathi should be respected without resorting to violence.

“We respect Marathi, but violence in its name won’t be accepted. Strict action will be taken against those resorting to violence. No language in India will be allowed to be disrespected," he had said while addressing the media.

While addressing a joint rally of MNS and Shiv Sena (UBT) along with his cousin, Uddhav Thackeray, Raj Thackeray earlier advised against violent enforcement of language use and said, “Be it Gujarati or anyone else, they must know Marathi. But there is no need to beat people for not speaking Marathi. [But] if someone creates unnecessary drama, you must hit below their eardrums."

He also advised against recording the video of the incident, saying that let the victim tell that he has been beaten up.