A disturbing video from Maharashtra’s Palghar district has gone viral, showing an auto-rickshaw driver being physically assaulted by alleged Shiv Sena (UBT) workers for making derogatory remarks about the Marathi language, state, and its icons. The migrant driver, who resides in Virar, reportedly made the comments earlier, and a clip of those remarks had already circulated on social media. On Saturday, a group of Sena (UBT) activists, including women, confronted him near Virar railway station, slapped him repeatedly, and forced him to publicly apologise—not just to individuals he had allegedly misbehaved with, but to the entire state of Maharashtra for his “insults” to its cultural and linguistic identity.
The incident has drawn sharp attention due to the involvement of Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena’s local leadership. Virar city unit chief Uday Jadhav, who was present at the scene, openly justified the mob action. In a statement to the media, he said, “Anyone who dares to speak ill of Maharashtra or Marathi manoos will be taught a lesson in true Shiv Sena style.” The video has sparked a broader debate over the limits of language enforcement and vigilantism in a state known for its rich linguistic pride. Despite the seriousness of the altercation, police confirmed that no formal complaint had been filed by either party, and the matter is still under preliminary verification.
This incident comes amid increasing tensions in Maharashtra over linguistic pride and enforcement. Earlier this month, workers from the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) allegedly slapped a food vendor in Bhayander for not speaking in Marathi. The episode led to trader protests, which were met with counter-protests by pro-Marathi groups, culminating in a march led by MNS, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP (SP) activists in Mira Bhayandar. The ongoing incidents reflect a rising tide of regional assertion, with growing concerns over whether such expressions are promoting cultural respect—or tipping into unlawful vigilantism and targeted aggression.
