Bhandup MNS Protest : Hindi School Books Burned, MNS Workers Storm Bookstores Over Marathi Language Rights

Tensions flared in Mumbai's Bhandup-Kanjurmarg area as Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) workers launched a fiery protest against the promotion of Hindi in school education, asserting their demand for Marathi language supremacy in the state’s educational institutions.

The protest erupted soon after MNS chief Raj Thackeray's press conference, in which he strongly opposed the inclusion of Hindi as a medium of instruction in Maharashtra schools. Following his statement, MNS workers—commonly referred to as 'Mansainiks'—went into action mode.

In a dramatic show of dissent, Mansainiks stormed local bookstores in the Bhandup and Kanjurmarg areas. Upon finding Hindi-language school textbooks, they tore and set them on fire, creating a commotion in the locality. Videos of the incident have gone viral on social media, sparking mixed reactions across political and social circles.

MNS activists also issued warnings to shopkeepers, demanding that they stop selling Hindi-language educational books, particularly those intended for school use. “Only Marathi should be given priority in Maharashtra's education system,” an MNS member reportedly said during the protest.

The incident marks yet another flashpoint in the ongoing language debate in Maharashtra. In recent weeks, concerns have grown among Marathi-speaking citizens about what they perceive as the increasing marginalization of the Marathi language in Mumbai’s public and educational spheres.