'Do Javed Akhtar, Aamir Khan Speak Marathi?': BJP Minister Slams MNS Workers For Assault On Shopkeeper
BJP minister Nitesh Rane questioned MNS workers if they would ask people in Muhammad Ali Street or Null Bazaar to speak in Marathi.
Maharashtra minister Nitesh Narayan Rane on Friday slammed the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) workers for thrashing a shopkeeper for not speaking Marathi.
He also challenged the Raj Thackeray party workers to ask people in areas like Null Bazaar and Mohammed Ali Road to speak Marathi.
The BJP minister also questioned why celebrities who do not speak Marathi are never targeted.
"A Hindu was beaten up for not speaking Marathi. If they have the courage, go to Null Bazaar, Mohammed Ali road and tell people there to speak Marathi," Rane said while speaking to reporters in Mumbai on Thursday.
#WATCH | Mumbai | On a viral video of a shop owner in Thane assaulted for purportedly refusing to speak in Marathi, Maharashtra Minister Nitesh Rane says, "A Hindu was beaten up for not speaking Marathi. If they have the courage, go to Null Bazaar, Mohammed Ali road and tell… pic.twitter.com/fk0R6cDxLc
— ANI (@ANI) July 4, 2025
"They don't have the courage to go there and beat up those cap-wearers. Do Javed Akhtar and Aamir Khan speak in Marathi? Why beat up a poor Hindu?" he questioned.
Rane also defended his government, claiming it was elected by Hindus and follows a Hindutva ideology. He warned critics not to test the government's patience, declaring that they may be forced to "open their third eye."
A food stall owner was thrashed up in Maharashtra's Thane, allegedly by MNS workers for not speaking in Marathi, police said on Wednesday. The incident took place on Tuesday in the city's Bhayandar area.
A video of the incident, which went viral on social media, showed some of the attackers wearing scarves purportedly carrying the symbol of the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS).
While purchasing the food, one of them asked the shopkeeper to speak in Marathi, to which the shopkeeper responded. The man got annoyed and shouted at the stall owner. Some others who were with the man joined him and slapped the stall owner, a police official said.
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