Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Jul 21: In yet another disturbing incident from Mumbai, a woman was harassed by a group of men in Ghatkopar for not speaking in Marathi, as tensions over language politics continue to rise in Maharashtra.

The woman, identified as Sanjira Devi, was reportedly standing outside her house when a group of men blocked the way. When she asked them to move, they insisted she speak in Marathi. A video of the confrontation, now circulating widely, shows the men shouting, “Speak in Marathi. This is Maharashtra,” with one of them raising a finger close to her face.

Refusing to comply, Sanjira responded in Hindi, saying, “No, you talk in Hindi. Aren’t you a Hindustani?” A heated exchange followed, with the group repeatedly asserting “Maharashtra” while bystanders gathered. Before police could arrive, the men had fled the scene.

This incident comes in the backdrop of a series of similar confrontations in the state, often linked to the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), led by Raj Thackeray, which has long campaigned for the use of Marathi in public spaces. Earlier cases included the assault of a shopkeeper and vandalism of investor Sushil Kedia’s office after he refused to speak in Marathi.

These incidents are unfolding amid criticism of the state government's alleged push for Hindi through the three-language policy under the National Education Policy (NEP), sparking fears of linguistic imposition.

Adding a political twist, Raj Thackeray and his cousin Uddhav Thackeray recently held a joint rally on July 5, marking their reunion after 20 years, further intensifying the state’s language debate.