The political firestorm around the Hindi-Marathi language row deepened on Friday as Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray launched a fierce counterattack against BJP MP Nishikant Dubey over his controversial 'patak patak ke maarenge' (we’ll beat you mercilessly) remark.
Speaking at a public rally in Mira Bhayandar, Raj lashed out, saying,
'Marathi logon ko hum yahan pe patak patak ke maarenge'...You come to Mumbai. Mumbai ke samundar mein dubo dubo ke maarenge.'
Thackeray’s sharp retort came after Dubey’s earlier comments that appeared to target Marathi speakers amid rising tensions over language imposition in Maharashtra.
Marathi language pride takes centre stage
Raj Thackeray reiterated his long-standing stand on protecting Marathi identity and language. He urged all residents of Maharashtra to learn and speak Marathi, adding:
“In Karnataka, even a rickshaw puller knows the government is behind him when it comes to language. Here too, speak Marathi like a pillar.”
He warned Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis against any attempt to impose Hindi in primary schools, threatening to shut down schools if needed.
“Earlier, we shut down shops. This time, if Hindi is forced, we won’t hesitate to shut down schools,” he said.
Dubey’s remarks trigger regional backlash
Nishikant Dubey, a BJP MP from Jharkhand, had earlier said: “If you’re brave enough to attack Hindi speakers, then go beat those who speak Urdu, Tamil, and Telugu too. If you think you’re a big boss, come out of Maharashtra to Bihar or UP—we’ll beat you patak patak ke.”
The comments came after MNS workers allegedly assaulted non-Marathi speakers, including a sweet shop owner, for not using Marathi in Mumbai’s suburban areas.
Dubey also alleged that Maharashtra’s economy was dependent on migrants’ money, saying:
“What industries do you have? You live off our money.”
Fadnavis distances government from Dubey’s comment
In a damage-control move, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis termed Dubey’s remarks 'inappropriate', saying:
“Even if he was speaking in a certain context, such statements have significant implications. It's not right.”
Fadnavis also sought to calm tempers, reminding people of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s role in protecting Indian culture, and emphasised that the three-language formula will be implemented through a dedicated committee.
Raj alleges attempt to ‘merge Mumbai with Gujarat’
Adding a political twist, Raj Thackeray accused the government of using Hindi imposition as a smokescreen to test public reaction before eventually trying to “attach Mumbai to Gujarat.”
He added that Hindi is only 200 years old, while Marathi boasts a legacy of over 2,500 years.
“When migrants were beaten in Gujarat, it wasn't a national issue. But the smallest incident in Maharashtra becomes headline news,” he said, questioning the double standards.
Language policy sparks protests across Maharashtra
The controversy erupted after the BJP-led Maharashtra government issued two Government Resolutions (GRs) mandating Hindi in primary schools under the three-language policy.
However, after protests led by the Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS, the resolutions were rolled back. Yet, the debate remains alive.
On July 8, MNS and allied groups staged a massive protest in Mira Bhayandar, defending Marathi ‘asmita’ (pride) and countering trader-led agitations.
Earlier, on July 5, Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray shared a rare stage in Mumbai, pledging to resist any forced language imposition in Maharashtra.
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