Mumbai: Seven Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) workers were accused of beating up a shopkeeper in Mira Road recently after he refused to speak in the Marathi language. The video of the assault went viral on social media.
Police sources claim that the accused have not been arrested but were only taken for questioning. Police recorded their statements and then released them. This does not sound like a serious police move since no FIR was registered and the accused were set free, as if the offence was committed by anyone outside the MNS party itself. But the FIR says that the accused in the matter are “unknown.”
The FIR was lodged on June 28 for an assault that allegedly took place outside a sweet shop, “Jodhpur Sweets,” near Balaji Hotel in Mira Road. The shop owner refused to speak in Marathi, prompting the MNS workers to thrash him.
Maharashtra Minister Nitesh Rane has flayed MNS chief Raj Thackeray for this act of violence. “MNS workers beat up a Hindu. Those who raise their hands against poor Hindus should also have the guts to go to Mohammad Ali Road or Nallbazar and beat up jihadists. If you go there, you will never find a single person speaking in Marathi,” Rane said in a press conference.
The MNS chief should explain the reasons behind the targeting of poor Hindus. People with beards and skullcaps never speak Marathi. Does Javed Akhtar or Aamir Khan speak in Marathi?” he added.
The minister further said that Thackeray and his party workers were trying to divide the Hindu society. “This government is based on Hindu ideology. It will take strict action against such people. Rane alleged a conspiracy to divide Hindus and an attempt to create an Islamic state.
Local police have not said anything about the case so far.