The lawlessness of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) activists is on the rise across Maharashtra. Surprisingly, the MNS boasts only one legislator and no parliamentarian, yet its activists are emboldened. This is particularly rampant in Mumbai and its adjoining regions. MNS workers frequently resort to the violence of non-Marathi speakers, especially North Indians, coercively demanding they speak in Marathi. During Congress and Shiv Sena's governance, this behavior was intolerable to the BJP, yet even under BJP, Hindi speakers' safety remains compromised, reflecting a decline in political standards.
MNS Leaders and Activists Drunk on Arrogance
On July 1, 2025, in Mira Bhayandar, 48-year-old Gujarati shopkeeper Bagaram Choudhary from Jodhpur Sweets was cornered by MNS workers demanding water and insisting he conversed in Marathi. Choudhary replied in Hindi, questioning the necessity of speaking Marathi. In retaliation, the activists unleashed abuse and slapped him several times—captured in a viral video, where they declare Maharashtra requires speaking in Marathi.
Amazingly, even after this incident, MNS Meera-Bhayandar District President Santosh Rane exhibited no remorse. Instead, he justified the attack by stating that those disrespecting the Marathi language would receive a fitting response from MNS. Logically, cases should have been filed against assaulters and arrogant figures like Rane. Sadly, neither the assailants nor arrogant leaders have faced any charges yet, causing a growing belief that the government desires Hindi speakers to live in fear or abandon Mumbai if they cannot speak Marathi.
The police lodged an FIR at Kashimira police station against seven MNS workers—Karan Kandigire (Deputy City Chief), Pramod Nikalje (Transport Sena District Organizer), Akshay Dalvi, and others—under BNS sections for disturbing the peace and assault. However, by July 3, 2025, no arrests have been made, sending a clear message that Maharashtra's government didn't bother pursuing these arrests. Social media users are tying this to the politics of the Fadnavis government, tagging the CM's name and demanding swift action if law and order exist in Maharashtra. Instead, the government appears indifferent to these occurrences.
What's Fadnavis Aiming For?
Currently, Maharashtra is governed by a Mahayuti alliance (BJP, Shiv Sena (Shinde), and NCP (Ajit Pawar), with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in office since December 5, 2024. The Mahayuti coalition secured 235 seats in the 2024 assembly elections, with the BJP taking 132, Shiv Sena 57, and NCP 41, demonstrating strong public support for the BJP. Yet, the government's silence on MNS's violent episodes and lack of assertive action spurs various apprehensions.
This provokes the question: Is the government truly in control, or intentionally overlooking the MNS under the guise of Marathi pride? On April 2, 2025, Fadnavis remarked that fostering the Marathi language isn't wrong, but it should remain within legal bounds, and unlawful actions won't be tolerated. However, his inaction post-Mira Bhayandar incident contradicts this statement, and an official response is yet to be issued.
The state’s Home Minister's stance appears even more alarming. While denouncing the attack, Home Minister Yogesh Kadam stated that insults toward the Marathi language are unacceptable. It seems evident that the government doesn't intend to act against those attacking Hindi speakers, and the Home Minister’s remarks indicate further assaults on Hindi speakers are anticipated.
Fadnavis and Other Governments Avoid Action
The MNS was established in 2006 by Raj Thackeray after seceding from Shiv Sena. Aimed at preserving Marathi identity, local employment, and the Marathi language, the party often employs violence against North Indians for its survival. In 2008, MNS workers targeted UP and Bihar migrants, vandalizing shops and public properties. During 2017, the MNS attacked non-Marathi hawkers in Thane and Pune. A comment on social media site X questioned why governments stay silent when Hindi speakers are assaulted:
