In Maharashtra, tensions surrounding language have flared once again, this time involving an auto-rickshaw driver who was allegedly assaulted for refusing to speak Marathi. The incident, which took place in Palghar district, involved members of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) who confronted the driver after a video of him went viral.
The auto-rickshaw driver, a migrant worker in the Virar area, was previously recorded in a video where he refused to speak Marathi and made what were described as "derogatory" comments about the language, Maharashtra, and Marathi icons. The video circulated widely, sparking outrage among local political groups. In the video, the driver is heard saying he would speak Hindi and Bhojpuri instead and that he did not know Marathi.
On Saturday, a group of individuals believed to be associated with Shiv Sena (UBT) tracked down the driver near Virar railway station. The group, which included women, reportedly slapped and thrashed the driver in public. They forced him to apologize to a local resident and his sister, whom he had allegedly misbehaved with, as well as to the state of Maharashtra for supposedly insulting its language and cultural heritage. A video of the assault was also shared on social media.
Uday Jadhav, a Shiv Sena (UBT) leader from Vasai Virar, defended the actions of his party members. He stated that the party would not remain silent if anyone insulted the Marathi language or people. Jadhav claimed that the driver had the "audacity to speak ill of Maharashtra and Marathi manoos" and was "taught a befitting lesson". He added that they made him apologize to those he had offended.
As of Sunday, police have stated that no formal complaint had been received and no case has been registered regarding the incident. Police have seen the viral video and are verifying the facts. Senior Inspector of Virar police station, Lalu Tare, said that eight or nine people have been booked for rioting and assault.
This incident is the latest in a series of incidents in Maharashtra related to language politics. Just days prior, suspected workers of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) allegedly assaulted a shopkeeper in Thane district for not speaking Marathi. The MNS also vandalized the Mumbai office of an entrepreneur after he posted on social media that he had lived in the city for 30 years without learning Marathi "properly". These incidents have occurred against the backdrop of a debate over the state government's proposal to make Hindi a "generally" taught third language in schools.
