Clashes reported in Mumbai's Dahisar on Friday afternoon, April 24, as workers of the Shiv Sena of Eknath Shinde faction and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) came face to face over the issue of making Marathi language compulsory for auto rickshaw and taxi drivers. Police intervened and brought the situation under control after slogan shouting by both sides.
The issue has also exposed differences within the Shinde Sena. Deputy leader and former MP Sanjay Nirupam has opposed the move, while party spokesperson Sheetal Mhatre has supported it.
Sena Shinde leader Nirupam had organised an interaction programme with auto rickshaw and taxi drivers in Dahisar, where he said there was no opposition to the Marathi language, but compulsion was not appropriate. His remarks drew strong objections from MNS workers, leading to a heated argument. The situation escalated, and the tyre of Nirupam’s car was reportedly punctured during the protest.
Nirupam has argued that enforcing Marathi could violate the fundamental rights of drivers and has called for a reconsideration of the decision. In contrast, Mhatre supported the stance taken by party leader Pratap Sarnaik, stating that the official language of a state should be respected and that making Marathi compulsory is justified.
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Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Nirupam said, "Our party leader, Eknath Shinde, has said that those who live in Maharashtra should speak Marathi. No one has any objection to this. The Marathi language should be respected in Maharashtra. However, no one should enforce this through force, intimidation, or by behaving like goons. Our opposition is only to such coercive methods..."
The confrontation took place during Nirupam’s visit to Dahisar for discussions, where MNS workers staged a protest. Meanwhile, MNS leader Sandeep Deshpande said that people coming to Maharashtra from other states should learn Marathi. He asserted that drivers should be able to speak the language fluently and not just a few words, and demanded action against officials who issue licences to those who do not know the local language.
"We assume that the persons who are in power, who are in the government, the government is of Eknath Shinde also, and he believes in ideology of late Hindu Samrat Balasaheb Thackeray, late Anand Dighe, and who have always fought for the cause of Marathi people. And in spite of that, the person, unfortunately, who is in Eknath Shinde's party, is against Marathi. I think if Dharmavir Anand Dighe would have been there, he would have definitely slapped him, Sanjay Nirupam, he would have definitely slapped Sanjay Nirupam, but unfortunately he is not there. So I think that work has to be done by Eknath Shinde," MNS Leader and Mumbai President Sandeep Deshpande said.
"First of all, it is not wrong to say that Marathi should be given priority in Mumbai or Maharashtra. However, the government’s role is to ensure that such issues do not lead to disputes. Auto and taxi drivers who do not know Marathi will be helped to learn the language," Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said.