The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has come out strongly against BJP MP Nishikant Dubey for allegedly making a derogatory statement against the Marathi community. According to a post shared by the official MNS Adhikrut handle on X, Dubey reportedly said, "I will beat the Marathi people black and blue."
The controversial remark has sparked outrage among several Maharashtra leaders, with three women MPs from Congress— Varsha Gaikwad, Pratibha Dhanorkar and Shobha Bachhav, confronting Dubey in Parliament over the statement. The MNS post congratulated the trio for standing up to what it called a reckless and arrogant comment.
MNS Questions Silence of Other Maharashtra MPs
In a strongly worded post, MNS praised the courage of the three MPs but questioned the silence of the other 45 Members of Parliament from Maharashtra. The party asked why they were not speaking up against what it termed an insult to the Marathi identity.
"Isn’t the Marathi identity and its insult a matter of pride for you?" the post asked, tagging the statement as a call for greater regional solidarity and self-respect among elected representatives.
How the Incident Unfolded in Parliament
The dramatic confrontation took place between 12:30 and 1 PM in the Parliament lobby. A group of Maharashtra MPs were reportedly looking for BJP MP Nishikant Dubey over his recent controversial statements. While searching, they came across BJP MP Manoj Tiwari and asked him about Dubey’s whereabouts. Coincidentally, Dubey appeared at the same moment.
The MPs, including Varsha Gaikwad, Pratibha Dhanorkar, Shobha Bachhav and others, quickly surrounded him and demanded an explanation for his remarks. Taken aback by the direct confrontation, Dubey appeared visibly rattled. In response, he said, “No, no… it’s not like that… Jai Maharashtra,” before exiting the scene. The slogan “Jai Maharashtra” caught the attention of several other MPs present near the Parliament canteen, where the entire exchange reportedly occurred.
Why the Controversy Is Brewing
The confrontation stems from an ongoing Hindi vs Marathi language row that has been escalating in Maharashtra, particularly in Mumbai. Tensions spiked after videos emerged allegedly showing MNS workers confronting or attacking Hindi speaking individuals in the state.
Reacting to these incidents, Nishikant Dubey had made inflammatory remarks that many perceived as an attack on the Marathi community. He was quoted saying:
“You people are surviving on our money. What kind of industries do you even have? If you’re brave enough to attack Hindi speakers, why not do the same to Urdu, Tamil, or Telugu speakers?”
Dubey’s Provocative Challenge
Dubey didn't stop there. He issued a bold challenge. He said, “If you're such big bosses, step outside Maharashtra, come to Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, or Tamil Nadu, we'll thrash you soundly. We respect the Marathi people and their role in India’s freedom struggle, but Raj and Uddhav Thackeray are playing low-level politics ahead of the BMC elections.”
He went further to provoke regional sensitivities by stating, "If they truly have guts, let them try to beat even a single Hindi or Urdu speaker near Mahim Dargah.”
Political Tensions Ahead of BMC Polls
The incident is widely seen as a politically charged moment ahead of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, with identity politics taking centre stage. The BJP and MNS appear to be locking horns over language, regional pride and vote-bank narratives, drawing sharp reactions from across party lines.
