Insult to Marathi will not be tolerated in Maharashtra – Minister Yogesh Kadam

Thane: A recent viral video from Maharashtra’s Thane district has caused a stir on social media, showing a shop owner being assaulted. The dispute allegedly arose over the shopkeeper not speaking in Marathi. The incident has not only captured public attention but also sparked political reactions.

Maharashtra government minister Yogesh Kadam took a firm stance on the matter, stating:

“In Maharashtra, you must speak Marathi. If you don’t know Marathi, your attitude shouldn’t be that you simply refuse to speak it.”

He further added that strict action would be taken against anyone who disrespects the Marathi language.Condemning the act of violence, Minister Kadam said:

“Those who assaulted the shopkeeper should not have taken the law into their own hands. They should have filed a complaint with the police—proper action would have been taken.”

What is the Case?

The incident reportedly took place in a local market in Thane, where a group of local youths confronted a non-Marathi shopkeeper, demanding he speak in Marathi. When the shopkeeper responded that he did not know the language, the situation escalated into physical assault. The entire episode was recorded by a bystander and shared on social media, where it quickly went viral.