The ongoing tensions surrounding language politics in Maharashtra have escalated with a fiery exchange between Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Nishikant Dubey. The confrontation arose from recent incidents involving MNS workers allegedly assaulting individuals for not speaking Marathi, the state's native language.
Dubey, reacting to these incidents and Raj Thackeray's remarks, dared the MNS leader to replicate such actions in other states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, or Tamil Nadu, suggesting that he would face severe consequences. He also referred to Raj Thackeray as a "bahut bade boss" and warned that he would be "thrashed badly, again and again".
Raj Thackeray retaliated strongly to Dubey's remarks during a public meeting in Mumbai. Addressing Dubey directly, Thackeray retorted, "You (Nishikant Dubey) come to Mumbai. Mumbai ke samundar mein dubo dubo ke maarenge," which translates to, "I will drown you in the sea of Mumbai". This statement was a direct response to Dubey's "tumko patak patak ke maarenge" remark, which means "you will be thrashed badly".
The MNS chief also addressed the broader language controversy, asserting his Hindu identity but firmly stating that Hindi could not be imposed on him. He emphasized the rights of Marathis in the region, stating that Maharashtra belongs to them and that others are "sons of the soil" while the rest are outsiders.
The recent war of words was triggered by a series of events, including videos circulating on social media showing MNS workers allegedly attacking North Indian laborers and vendors for their inability to speak Marathi. These incidents occurred against the backdrop of the Devendra Fadnavis government's decision to roll back the three-language policy in the state, a move that was applauded by Raj and Uddhav Thackeray, who viewed the policy as "Hindi imposition".
In early July 2025, Dubey criticized Raj Thackeray’s advice to his party workers to "hit below their eardrum" those who create "unnecessary drama" but to avoid filming it. Raj Thackeray had said, "If you beat someone, don't make a video of the incident. Let the person beaten tell that he has been beaten up; you don't need to tell everyone". Dubey responded by daring Raj Thackeray to also target those who speak Urdu, Tamil, or Telugu.
The situation is further complicated by the upcoming elections for the Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), with Dubey accusing the Thackerays of engaging in "cheap politics" to gain an advantage. He also shared a purported screenshot of a WikiLeaks entry from 2007, detailing violence against Bihari students in Maharashtra, suggesting that Raj Thackeray resorts to "thuggery" when he lacks public support.
Adding another layer to the controversy, Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) leader Yogesh Kadam, a BJP ally in Maharashtra, expressed his disapproval of Nishikant Dubey's statements, saying, "Such arrogance will not work. We will not tolerate such statements. He is a Parliamentarian. He has won four terms, but it does not befit him to give such statements".
