Maharashtra: Police Detain MNS Workers Planning Counter Rally After Traders Protested Against Assault Of Man For Not Speaking Marathi

Thane district witnessed heightened tension on Tuesday (8 July) after workers of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) were detained while attempting to hold a rally in Mira Bhayander, India Today reported. 

The march was intended as a counter to a protest by traders, who had condemned the recent assault of a food stall owner for not speaking Marathi.

The video went viral, sparking anger across the trading community. Though seven MNS members were detained, they were later released after interrogation. A case was registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for rioting, assault, and issuing threats.

In response, local traders held a large protest demanding strict action. On Tuesday (8 July), MNS workers planned a rally in Mumbai in defiance of police orders. However, the police detained several leaders early in the morning, including Avinash Jadhav, the party's Thane and Palghar head, leading to heavy traffic disruptions and police deployment.

India Today reported that MNS leader Sandeep Deshpande criticised the police action, saying, “At 3.30 this morning, our leaders were arrested. The police are showing respect to the protest march of Gujarati traders, but are not giving permission to the march of Marathi people. What kind of emergency-like situation is this? Is this the government of Maharashtra or of Gujarat? No matter what they do, the march will definitely take place.”

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis defended the action, stating that MNS workers did not follow the approved route for the rally.

The tensions follow a broader push by MNS to enforce the use of Marathi in commercial settings. Just last week, party workers vandalised the office of entrepreneur Sushil Kedia after he publicly stated he did not speak fluent Marathi despite living in Mumbai for 30 years.

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