Marathi row: as assault on shopkeeper snowballs into major issue, MNS-Sena (UBT) stage joint protest march in Thane

Situation escalates after July 3

While the assault initially drew criticism from traders’ associations — many of whom belong to the Marwadi and Jain communities — the political temperature rose sharply after a bandh was observed on July 3, reportedly at the behest of BJP leader and former MLA Narendra Mehta.

MNS and Sena (UBT) leaders have alleged that Mehta played a key role in instigating the bandh and used the issue to mobilise shopkeepers ahead of the civic body polls. A video from the bandh, showing a local woman trader stating that “if we keep our shops closed for seven days, people will go hungry,” went viral, drawing sharp backlash from Marathi-speaking groups which interpreted it as an insult.

According to MNS functionaries, the backlash to such remarks — widely circulated online — further intensified anger within the Marathi-speaking community and directly contributed to the protest march on Tuesday.

Although police had advised against the protest citing law and order concerns, MNS Thane district president Avinash Jadhav announced that the march would go ahead. He was detained from his Thane residence around 3.30 am on Tuesday along with some of his supporters.

Despite the preventive detention by the police, the MNS and Sena (UBT) workers gathered in large numbers across Mira Road. Transport Minister and local MLA Pratap Sarnaik also joined the protest, defying police advisories. However, he was driven away by the protesters within minutes.

CM Fadnavis’s reaction, criticism from various quarters

Responding to the issue, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis clarified that permission was not denied for the protest but MNS was asked to change the route. “It would be wrong to say we blocked the Mira Road protest. I spoke to the police commissioner. The police only asked the organisers to take an alternate route due to safety and traffic concerns. The organisers refused,” he said.

He added, “Maharashtra is a democratic state. Protests are allowed, but not in a way that disrupts public order.” Sources, however, said that Fadnavis has sought a report from the Maharashtra police chief over the detention of MNS leaders and refusal to give permission for the march.

At the protest site, MNS leader Sandeep Deshpande targeted the business community, saying: “You are traders — remain traders. Don’t interfere in politics or insult Marathi.”

Sena (UBT) leaders accused the administration of detaining Marathi-speaking protesters while failing to act against those who made provocative statements during the bandh on July 3.

Meanwhile, Avinash Jadhav was released from detention by Tuesday afternoon. He rejoined supporters and addressed the gathering, calling for unity and warning further backlash if Marathi people are insulted.

Jadhav claimed that the police told him that he was detained because they were under pressure from the government.

Shiv Sena leader and Minister of State for Home, Yogesh Kadam, however said that the protest march was organised without permission and an FIR will be registered against the organisers.

The police’s action drew sharp criticism not only from Opposition parties like Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP), but also from within the ruling Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde. Several leaders questioned why similar enforcement was not applied to other groups. “If non-Maharashtrians can organise protests without permission, why can’t Marathi people?” NCP(SP) MLA Rohit Pawar asked.