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The victim was learning how to drive when his car allegedly brushed past his neighbour’s vehicle, leading to a violent confrontation where an MNS worker asked him to speak Marathi.
There have been several instances of violent confrontations by MNS workers over the Marathi language. (PTI File Photo)
The argument broke out when the victim, a migrant named Baidyanath Pandit, was learning to drive a car and accidentally hit the vehicle of his neighbour on Thursday, according to a report by NDTV.
The duo exchanged abuses, after which the neighbour called in MNS workers and thrashed him. A viral video showed MNS workers and the neighbour speaking to the man about the incident.
As the situation unfolded, one of the workers speaking in Marathi asked Pandit if he knew the language. He then told Pandit that he “should learn Marathi” if he didn’t know the language. Another worker then asked him, “Why did you abuse the neighbour?”
As Pandit responded by saying the neighbour had abused him first, one of the workers suddenly slapped him. According to a local media report, the man affirmed that he did not know Marathi and asked MNS workers to speak to him in Hindi, but they beat him and demanded an apology.
In a video statement later, Pandit alleged that the neighbour also slapped his wife. “They told us we are outsiders and would kick us out of here,” he said. “He also fights with everyone over parking.”
The police filed a non-cognizable report (NCR) and initiated an investigation into the matter.
There have been several instances of MNS workers assaulting people, particularly over the Marathi language. Earlier this month, MNS workers allegedly assaulted a food stall operator in Kalyan area of Thane district, accusing him of making derogatory remarks against Marathi people and Raj Thackeray.
The video clip shows MNS’s Kalyan (East) office-bearer Kush Rajput and other workers confronting the operator of a South Indian food outlet and beating him up. He was forced to apologise and was made to promise that he wouldn’t make such remarks in future.
Prior to that, a former corporator of MNS and his supporters barged into the cabin of Pune Municipal Corporation chief Navalkishore Ram when he was addressing a meeting. Ram allegedly told the ex-corporator Kishore Shinde to leave his office in Hindi, prompting Shinde to object and demand that Ram speak in Marathi.
(with agency inputs)
About the Author
Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master’s in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international…Read More
Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master’s in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international… Read More
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