Mumbai: A store employee at a D-Mart outlet in Versova, Andheri (West), was allegedly assaulted by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) workers for refusing to speak in Marathi. The incident, which occurred on March 25, has sparked debate over language politics in Maharashtra.
According to reports, the controversy began when a video surfaced online showing the employee telling a customer, “Nahi aata meko Marathi, Main Hindi hi bolega, Kya karega? Jo karna hai wo kar” (I will not speak in Marathi, I will speak only in Hindi. Do what you want to do) The remarks drew the attention of MNS and soon after, a group of party workers, led by their Versova unit president Sandesh Desai, visited the store. In the confrontation that followed, the employee was allegedly slapped.
A video of the assault has also gone viral on social media, where the MNS workers can be seen confronting the unruly staff member. They can also be seen slapping him before enquiring about when did he come to Mumbai. The MNS workers then asked him to learn Marathi if he wants to continue working at his workplace. Later, the store staffer issued an apology for his remarks, PTI reported.
Similar Incident Reported In Mulund Earlier This Year
Meanwhile, a similar incident had taken place in January at a fast-food stall in Mulund, where MNS workers allegedly assaulted an employee over his treatment of a Marathi-speaking family. Reports suggest that the altercation began when a woman named Mansi Mega and her mother, who had visited Mulund for bank-related work, stopped at the food stall.
For reasons yet unknown, the stall worker allegedly insulted them, saying, “If you can’t afford it, why did you come here to eat?” When Mansi questioned his behaviour, he reportedly began shouting and when her mother tried to intervene, he pushed her aside. Feeling intimidated, they approached the MNS public relations office for help.
Soon after, MNS workers arrived at the food stall and confronted the employee. A video that has since gone viral shows the workers grabbing him by the collar, slapping him repeatedly, and dragging him out of the stall. Another employee who attempted to intervene was also slapped and warned to stay away.
Initially, the worker denied any wrongdoing, but after Mansi narrated the incident, the MNS workers forced him to apologise to her. They then left the scene after issuing a stern warning.
