Devendra Fadnavis On MNS : Devendra Fadnavis Slams MNS Over Marathi Language Row

As preparations intensify for the upcoming Thackeray brothers' "Victory Rally" on July 5, the political discourse in Maharashtra has taken a sharp turn, especially regarding the use of the Marathi language. With the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) ramping up its aggressive stance on Marathi identity, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has issued a stern warning, denouncing violence in the name of linguistic pride.

Fadnavis strongly criticized the MNS for threatening and assaulting traders who are not fluent in Marathi. “We are proud of being Marathi and promoting the language is not wrong. But beating up someone just because they don’t speak Marathi is absolutely unacceptable,” he said. Speaking to the media, Fadnavis questioned the logic behind such attacks. “What is the trader's fault if he doesn’t know the language? Should he not be allowed to run his business because of that?” he asked, emphasizing that such behavior reflects poorly on the state's ethos.

The Deputy CM further pointed out the hypocrisy of such actions. “Many Marathi-speaking people do business in other states where they don’t know the local language. Are they treated like this there?” he asked. “This kind of ‘goon-shahi’ (hooliganism) has no place in India. Strict action will be taken against those who take the law into their own hands.”

Fadnavis also took a dig at MNS leaders without naming them directly, suggesting that the same individuals who participate in cabinet decisions and hold "victory rallies" are now trying to exploit the language issue for political gain. “Marathi people are watching closely. They can see who is being duplicitous. Decisions will not be made at the cost of Marathi children's future,” he added.

The controversy comes at a time when language politics is once again at the forefront in Maharashtra, with regional identity clashing against the realities of a multilingual, commercial society. Fadnavis’s comments are seen as an attempt to strike a balance — promoting Marathi pride while condemning vigilantism.