Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray has issued a clear directive to all party workers and leaders: do not speak to the media or post anything on social media without prior permission. This stern instruction, shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, aims to prevent unauthorized statements and uncontrolled reactions amid rising tensions in the state.
Raj specifically stated:
“No one from the party should interact with newspapers, news channels, or any digital media. Likewise, absolutely do not post videos of your reactions on social media. And those spokespersons officially assigned the responsibility of interacting with the media should also not engage with any media without consulting me or obtaining my permission.”
This gag order comes amid heightened controversy over the alleged “imposition” of Hindi in schools and recent aggressive actions by MNS activists. Earlier this week, MNS workers were involved in a protest march in Mira Road and Thane, demanding prominence for Marathi. The demonstration saw several workers briefly detained after the route was denied by the police. Among those detained was MNS Thane and Palghar district chief Avinash Jadhav. Senior Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Pratap Sarnaik also faced heckling during the protest.
Tensions flared in the Mira-Bhayandar region near Mumbai on Tuesday as hundreds of citizens joined a protest march led by the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and other pro-Marathi organizations. The demonstration was held in defense of Marathi asmita (pride) following a recent incident involving an assault on a shopkeeper who allegedly refused to converse in Marathi.
The protest, organized under the banner of the Marathi Ekikaran Samiti, saw participation from workers and leaders of several political outfits, including Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction). Thousands of demonstrators marched through the streets of Mira Road and Bhayandar, holding placards, waving saffron flags, and chanting slogans like “Mi Marathi” (I am Marathi). Many protestors, including women, wore white caps as a symbol of unity in the Marathi cause.
Incident That Sparked the Protest
The march was triggered by an incident on July 1, when an MNS worker allegedly slapped a food stall owner for not speaking in Marathi. A video of the confrontation went viral on social media, drawing widespread criticism. Seven MNS workers were detained by police in connection with the assault.
In response, local traders had staged a counter-protest condemning the MNS’s actions, accusing them of bullying and intimidation. The MNS, however, defended the action, citing repeated disrespect toward Marathi language and culture in Mumbai’s suburbs.
Old WikiLeaks Cable Resurfaces Amid Current Tensions
As the current unrest grabs headlines, a 2007 WikiLeaks cable has resurfaced and added fuel to the political debate. The cable details how students in Bihar vandalized trains and stations between October 21–25, 2007, following MNS attacks on Hindi-speaking job aspirants at railway recruitment centers in Maharashtra.
According to the leaked cable, Bihari students launched violent protests in cities like Patna, Sasaram, and Bhagalpur after alleging that an MNS activist had killed a Bihari candidate. The violence eventually prompted then Bihar CM Nitish Kumar to seek intervention from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
BJP MP Dr. Nishikant Dubey referenced this cable in a strongly worded post on X, stating:
“This is 2007’s WikiLeaks. When Raj Thackeray fails to gain public support, he pushes goondaism. His brand of politics thrives on fear, not public service. Marathi society has always been nationalistic and deserves better.”
Dubey emphasized that Mumbai’s growth owes much to inclusive cooperation, not divisive language politics. He added, “Let’s build Mumbai together, not divide it between Marathi and non-Marathi.”
