'This won't be tolerated': Maharashtra CM Fadnavis on slap incident over Marathi language

Maharashta Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has reacted to the incident where a man was slapped for not knowing the Marathi language and said that such behaviour will not be tolerated.

"It is not wrong to be proud of the Marathi language in Maharashtra. But if someone indulges in hooliganism due to language, we will not tolerate it. If someone beats up people on the basis of language, this will not be tolerated," he said.

"The police have filed an FIR and taken action on the incident, and if anyone creates such a language dispute in future, legal action will be taken. We are proud of our Marathi, but injustice cannot be done to any language of India in this manner; we will have to keep this in mind. And sometimes I am surprised that these people embrace English and create disputes over Hindi. What kind of thinking is this and what kind of action is this? Therefore, strict action will be taken against those who take the law into their own hands," Fadnavis added.

The Chief Minister also said that the Maharashtra government will not spare anyone and any hooliganism in the name of language will be met with serious legal action. He also launched a scathing attack on MNS and said, "They think only they are Marathi. But that is not correct. We are Marathi too... Marathi people back us and will stay with us."

A 48-year-old shopkeeper, Babulal Chaudhary, who runs the 'Jodhpur Sweer Shop' in Mira Road, was slapped by seven members of the Raj Thackeray-led MNS for asking them why speaking in Marathi should be compulsory.

The men also warned Chaudhary that he would not be allowed to do business in the area and, when he pointed out that all languages are spoken in Maharashtra. They then started slapping him and the act was caught on camera.