Markets in Mumbai's Mira Road area have been shut after an assault on a sweet shopkeeper by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) workers on Saturday, June 28, which has sparked outrage among locals. The shopkeepers in the area sought justice for the sweet shop owner who was beaten for not speaking in the Marathi language. However, the Mira-Bhayandar Police had registered an FIR on the complaint, but no arrests have been made to date.
Shops Shut in Mira Road in Protest Over Shopkeeper Assault
As per the viral video shared on social media sites, three men stopped at the sweet shop to buy mineral water bottles during their conversation with the shop owner, whom they confronted over his language and Marathi pride. When questioned about not using the state's local language, the sweet shop owner said that he did not know that speaking Marathi was compulsory and that someone would have to teach him. Hearing this, one of the men warned him: "Maar khayega?"
Also Read | Mumbai: MNS Workers Beat Sweet Shop Owner in Mira Road For Not Speaking in Marathi (Watch).
Later, two men were seen slapping the shop-owner after he argued with them that all languages are spoken in Maharashtra. In a viral clip, it can be seen that one man slapped him continuously, while another man can be heard abusing him and warning him that he would not be allowed to run a business in the area.
Bollywood actor Ranvir Shorey also condemned the attack after seeing a viral video. While sharing the video on social media platform X questions Maharashtra government over the law and order in the state while tagging Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
"This is sickening. Monsters on the loose, looking for attention and political relevance. Where’s L&O? (sic)." However, he received backlashed from the netizens over the tweet. One of the X users commented, "Since how many years you now live in Maharashtra? How much effort have you taken to learn Marathi?"
Ranvir replied at the user and said that he is not against the language and believes there are better ways to teach it to people. "First, I’m not answerable to a hateful anonymous troll like you for any of these questions. Second, you’re really dumb if you think beating people up will make them learn and speak a language."
Samajwadi Party leader Abu Asim Azmi also condemned the assault of the shop owner, saying there is no pride in beating a North Indian for language. "We fully respect the Marathi language, but what pride is there in beating up a North Indian for not knowing Marathi? If you are such a great warrior, why do you attack the poor?"
Azmi challenged MNS workers to show their power in corporate offices where they only speak English and Hindi. "If you have the courage, go and show your strength to the people in Mumbai’s big corporate offices who only speak English or Hindi," Azmi said while speaking to the media. "If you want to teach Marathi, distribute books, open institutes, explain to people with love. But resorting to violence for this—where is the justice in that?"