What began as a minor altercation over a mobile recharge in Maharashtra’s Thane has spiraled into a full-blown language controversy, stoking the ongoing Marathi vs non-Marathi divide in the state. A video, now widely circulated on social media, shows non-Marathi men being slapped and made to apologise by a Marathi man, allegedly under the watch of Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Rajan Vichare.
The incident took place on July 1, when Kiran Tanaji Sawant, 43, visited a shop to recharge his mobile phone. Due to a technical glitch, the recharge failed, leading to an argument between Sawant and several staff members.
Another shocking incident from Thane – former MP Rajan Vichare (Uddhav faction) summoned traders to his office, got them beaten up by his men, forced an apology, and kept insisting they speak only in Marathi.
Safety of traders cannot be compromised.
Requesting strict action,… pic.twitter.com/MKmKYqZP7p
— Sumit Agarwal (@sumitagarwal_IN) July 3, 2025
The situation escalated into a scuffle, leaving Sawant injured. He later filed a complaint with the police, who registered a case under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections related to causing hurt. Four individuals were detained and released after being served notice.
Politicians Divided as Marathi Identity Debate Intensifies
The situation took a dramatic turn after the matter was taken to Rajan Vichare’s office. In the viral video, one of Vichare’s aides is seen interrupting a staff member and demanding he speak in Marathi: “Marathi mein bol, Marathi ko mara na? Marathi mein bol.”
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Following this, Sawant is seen receiving apologies from the accused, who touch his feet and are then slapped in return. They are further made to hold their ears and promise on camera that they won’t repeat the “mistake.”
The footage has sparked widespread condemnation and reignited the Marathi vs non-Marathi discourse in Maharashtra, particularly as it follows another recent incident where supporters of Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena assaulted a shopkeeper for refusing to speak Marathi.
While some political leaders have justified the importance of respecting the Marathi language, others have strongly objected to coercive tactics and have urged Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to take decisive action to prevent such incidents from escalating further.
