Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday responded to Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) Chief Raj Thackeray's statement, in which he said that the party would not back down from "slapping" people residing in the state if they refused to speak Marathi.
Speaking to the media in Mumbai, Fadnavis said, "I tell you clearly, it is not wrong to demand the use of Marathi in Maharashtra. The government also wants Marathi to be used as much as possible. However, if someone takes the law into their own hands, then the law will take its course."
Addressing the party’s annual Gudhi Padwa rally at Shivaji Park on Sunday, MNS chief Raj Thackeray said, “In our Mumbai, they tell us that they cannot speak Marathi… they will get a slap on the face. Don’t tell me about the country and all. Every state has its own language, and it must be respected. In Mumbai, Marathi should be respected.”
“From tomorrow, check every bank, every establishment. Check whether Marathi is being used. All of you should stand firmly for Marathi,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mumbai’s Powai police booked three MNS workers on Tuesday for allegedly slapping a 40-year-old watchman for not speaking in Marathi.
A video of the incident, which took place on Monday at around 8:30 PM, later went viral on social media platforms.
