Amidst a growing controversy surrounding the imposition of Marathi language in Maharashtra, Praveen Kumar Teotia, a former MARCOS commando and hero of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, has strongly criticized Raj Thackeray and his party, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). Teotia's condemnation comes in response to recent incidents of violence against non-Marathi speakers in the state.

Teotia, who hails from Uttar Pradesh, played a pivotal role in neutralizing terrorists at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel during the 2008 Mumbai attacks, saving over 150 lives. He was shot four times during the operation and was awarded the Shaurya Chakra for his bravery.

In a recent social media post, Teotia questioned the absence of MNS "warriors" during the 26/11 attacks, highlighting the contributions of people from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar in saving lives. Sharing a photo of himself in commando gear, he asserted that "smiles don't require any language" and urged people not to divide the nation. His message emphasized unity and pushed back against dividing people by language. He stated, "I saved Mumbai on 26/11. I bleed for Maharashtra. I'm from UP... Where were Raj Thackeray's so-called warriors? Don't divide the Nation".

Teotia's remarks are a direct response to the MNS's aggressive stance on enforcing the use of Marathi in public and official spaces. Recently, there have been instances of MNS workers assaulting individuals for not speaking Marathi. One case involved a bank employee being beaten for not responding in Marathi, while another saw a shopkeeper in Mira Road assaulted for speaking Hindi.

Raj Thackeray has been vocal about enforcing Marathi language use, allegedly telling party workers not to film assaults and encouraging aggressive tactics. In response to criticism, Uddhav Thackeray said, "Yes, we are goons; if we have to be goons to get justice, we will do goondagiri".

Teotia's strong words have resonated with many who value unity and condemn linguistic vigilantism. His stance is in stark contrast to the MNS's actions, which have been criticized as promoting linguistic radicalism in the name of regional pride. This isn't the first time the MNS has been involved in controversies related to language and regionalism. In 2008, the party was implicated in attacks against North Indian immigrants, ostensibly to protect Marathi culture.