Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray has strongly criticized the recent clashes within the Maharashtra Assembly, while also defending the actions of his party workers, often referred to as "soldiers". Thackeray's comments come in the wake of a physical altercation between BJP and NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar faction) leaders and supporters within the Vidhan Bhavan premises.
Thackeray voiced his dismay over the decline in political standards and decorum, questioning what Maharashtra has become. He attributed the assembly brawl to an "obsession with power" and a reckless inclusion of individuals who use vile insults against senior leaders, followed by hypocritical preaching about political propriety. He challenged the government to take action against its own members if it has any sense left and warned against lecturing his party when his "Maharashtra soldiers" act against those opposing Marathi interests.
Drawing a parallel between the assembly ruckus and the assertion of Marathi identity, a cause the MNS frequently champions, Thackeray questioned the silence of those who usually criticize MNS workers for their aggressive stances on issues related to the Marathi language. He proudly defended his party workers' actions, stating that whenever someone dares to slight the Marathi language or harm a Marathi person, his "Maharashtra soldier delivers a befitting response". He emphasized that such actions stem from a love for the Marathi language and people, not from personal grudges.
Thackeray referenced a past incident where an MNS MLA gave a "fitting lesson" to an arrogant MLA in the Legislative Assembly for allegedly trying to belittle Marathi, clarifying that it wasn't out of personal animosity but for the sake of the Marathi language. He sarcastically questioned why the motives of those involved in the recent assembly scuffle shouldn't also be investigated.
His remarks followed a video surfacing of MNS workers assaulting a shopkeeper in Mumbai's Vikhroli for a WhatsApp status deemed offensive to the Marathi-speaking community. This incident is among a series of similar assaults on those allegedly against the Marathi-speaking community. Thackeray stated that he feels proud when his soldiers of Maharashtra slap a person who tries to drive a nail into the throat of the Marathi people and that it's not out of personal jealousy, but for his language and his Marathi people.
The MNS chief's unapologetic defense of his party workers' actions has drawn criticism, with some accusing him of "selective outrage," remaining silent on the violence and rampage carried out by his own MNS party workers in Mumbai. Others have condemned the waste of public funds and legislative time due to such incidents in the Assembly, with Thackeray estimating the cost of unruly Assembly sessions at ₹1.5 to ₹2 crore per day.
The recent clash in the Maharashtra Assembly involved supporters of BJP MLA Gopichand Padalkar and NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) MLA Jitendra Awhad, escalating tensions between the two camps. The confrontation reportedly began as a verbal altercation outside the assembly building the previous day, with both MLAs and their supporters hurling abuses at each other. Following the clash, Awhad alleged that he had been abused and threatened with death, while Padalkar expressed regret and issued an apology.
