Mahadangal: Maharashtra CM Fadnavis Warns Against Language-Based Violence, Says “Gundagardi Won’t Be Tolerated”

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has issued a strong warning in response to recent incidents of violence over language in Mumbai and Thane. Reacting to reports of people being assaulted for not speaking Marathi, Fadnavis made it clear that "gundagardi" in the name of language will not be tolerated under any circumstances. He emphasized that while Marathi deserves respect as the state’s official language, equal respect must be given to all Indian languages. “No one has the right to assault someone over language. Cases will be filed against those who indulge in such acts,” the Chief Minister declared. This comes after an incident on July 2 in Thane, where people were reportedly attacked for not speaking Marathi. One of the accused was identified as a former Shiv Sena (UBT) MP. The growing concern around linguistic chauvinism has sparked debates across Maharashtra, especially in its capital city, Mumbai, which is home to a multilingual population. Fadnavis reiterated that every Indian language deserves dignity and that such incidents harm the spirit of unity. However, it remains to be seen whether this strong statement will curb the actions of language vigilantes.