'Marathi ko mara na?': How a simple recharge fight exploded into Marathi vs non-Marathi war in Thane; Viral video sparks outrage

What began as a simple dispute over a mobile phone recharge in Thane has now turned into a full-blown Marathi vs non-Marathi row. A viral video has added fuel to the fire, showing a man slapping others who are made to apologise in Marathi. The incident has sparked public outrage and brought political heat at a time when language tensions in Maharashtra are already high.

How it all started

The dispute started on 1 July, when a 43-year-old man named Kiran Tanaji Sawant went to a local shop in Thane to get his mobile phone recharged. Due to a technical issue, the recharge didn’t go through. The shop staff claimed that Sawant lost his temper and began creating chaos. This led to a fight between him and four to five staff members. Sawant reportedly suffered injuries in the scuffle.

He later filed a police complaint, and a case was registered under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita related to causing hurt. Four shop staff were detained and released after receiving legal notice.

The controversial video

The matter then reached the office of former Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Rajan Vichare. A video from the meeting has gone viral on social media. In the clip, a staff member is seen trying to speak when one of Vichare’s aides interrupts him and says, “Marathi mein bol, Marathi ko mara na? Marathi mein bol,” which means “Speak in Marathi. Didn’t you hit a Marathi? Speak in Marathi.”

The video then shows Kiran Sawant sitting as the accused staff members approach him one by one, apologise with folded hands, touch his feet, and get slapped by him. They are made to hold their ears, look into the camera and admit they were wrong.

Politics and public anger

The video has triggered huge backlash, especially among those concerned about the rising Marathi vs non-Marathi tension. Some political leaders argue that people living in Maharashtra should respect and learn the local language. Others, however, have pointed out that forcing someone to speak a language or humiliating them is not acceptable. They have called on Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to step in and stop any further violence linked to the language debate.

This comes just days after another incident where Maharashtra Navnirman Sena supporters allegedly attacked a shopkeeper for not speaking Marathi. The growing pressure on non-Marathi speakers, especially migrants working in the state, is now drawing national attention.

Inputs from agencies