'Innocent Hindus were beaten because of language': Maharashtra minister compares assault on Hindi-speaking people with Pahalgam attack

Maharashtra minister Ashish Shelar (X.com/ANI image)

On Marathi language row, Maharashtra minister Ashish Shelar on Sunday said that while terrorists had targeted tourists in Pahalgam based on their religion, people were being attacked in the state on linguistic lines, which was disappointing. Asserting that the BJP, being the largest party in Maharashtra, would safeguard the pride of Marathi people, he said the party would also protecting non-Marathi residents.

The Maharashtra minister said, "All these incidents cause pain, suffering, and mental distress. In Pahalgam, they shot them after asking about their religion. And here they beat up the innocent Hindus just because of the language they speak. Such cases create disturbance..."

#WATCH | Mumbai: On Marathi language row, Maharashtra Minister Ashish Shelar says, "All these incidents cause pain, suffering, and mental distress. In Pahalgam, they shot them after asking about their religion. And here they beat up the innocent Hindus just because of the… pic.twitter.com/rXAa3iskQc

— ANI (@ANI) July 6, 2025

Shelar also accused Shiv Sena (UBT) head and former state chief minister Uddhav Thackeray of shifting alliances purely for political gains.

"He (Uddhav) first aligned with the BJP to gain power in the state and the BMC (cash-rich Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation). When he realised he could become chief minister, he joined hands with the (then undivided) NCP and Congress. Now, to retain power in the BMC, he is trying to woo the MNS," he claimed.

Shelar also said the attacks on Hindi-speaking people allegedly by MNS workers were disappointing and asserted, "Marathi is not a political issue for us."

Uddhav Thackeray and his cousin Raj Thackeray, who heads the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), shared the stage at a rally in Mumbai on Saturday for the first time in nearly two decades.

#WATCH | Mumbai: On the joint rally of Shiv Sena (UBT) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), Maharashtra Minister Ashish Shelar says, "It is a very good thing that two brothers came together... Whether the two parties will contest the elections together or not is their right;… pic.twitter.com/aGB0af1lnT

— ANI (@ANI) July 6, 2025

Commenting on the Thackeray cousins' reunion, Shelar said, "It is a very good thing that two brothers came together... Whether the two parties will contest the elections together or not is their right; they can decide whatever they want on that matter. We have nothing to say about that today. As far as yesterday's program is concerned, one brother's speech is incomplete, and the other's is irrelevant."

"What Raj Thackeray said was not complete. He discussed Marathi, but did not elaborate on the entire topic. Uddhav Thackeray's speech was irrelevant, showing pleasure by joining one word with another word and collecting brownie points. There was nothing else in his entire speech except the mention of the fact that his government fell... In yesterday's meeting, neither language nor Maharashtra were a topic," Shelar added.

Amid the row over alleged assault of a Mumbai shopkeeper for not speaking in Marathi, MNS chief Raj Thackeray had advised his party workers 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.”

A viral video recently showed workers of the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) last week thrashing a shop-keeper in Bhayandar area on the outskirts of the state capital for allegedly refusing to speak in Marathi.

Seven members of the MNS were later detained and allowed to go after the police served notices on them.

(With agency inputs)