Hooliganism in name of language won’t be tolerated: CM Fadnavis on slapgate

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday addressed concerns over the incident involving alleged language-based hooliganism where a shopkeeper was arrested for not speaking Marathi language.

He asserted that while pride in the Marathi language is natural and justified in the state, any form of violence or discrimination in its name will not be tolerated.

Mumbai, Maharashtra: Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis says, "It is not wrong to take pride in the Marathi language in Maharashtra. But if anyone indulges in hooliganism in the name of language, we will not tolerate it... I am sometimes surprised that these people embrace English… pic.twitter.com/ttC56f6WgX

— IANS (@ians_india) July 4, 2025

“There is nothing wrong in taking pride in Marathi language in Maharashtra. However, if anyone indulges in hooliganism in the name of language, it will not be tolerated,” said the Maharashtra CM on Friday.

“An FIR has been filed over the incident, and the police action has been taken. Legal action will ensue in future as well, for such incidents,” he added.

“There is nothing wrong in taking pride in Marathi, but no Indian language should be discriminated against,” he said addressing the media.

He further added that he was surprised how English is sometimes embraced and Hindi is discriminated against, saying he does not understand the thought process behind it.

"If anyone is taking law in their hand, action will be taken," concluded CM Fadnavis.

The incident in question involved a video that captured members of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) allegedly attacking a restaurant owner in Mumbai’s Mira Road area over his inability to speak Marathi.

The video that went viral on social media showed a group of men visiting a shop to buy food. The situation turned violent when they allegedly attacked the shop owner for not speaking in Marathi. The men were seen wearing scarves associated with Raj Thackeray’s faction of MNS.

The incident took place in Bhayander, located in Maharashtra’s Thane district. It occurred shortly after the state government rolled back its decision to enforce a three-language policy, which had sparked criticism from the opposition.