Mumbai6 minutes ago
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A Gujarati shopkeeper was beaten up by activists of Raj Thackeray’s party Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) in Thane, Maharashtra.
The shopkeeper asked him only why it is necessary to speak Marathi. In response to this, the workers tell him that this is Maharashtra, so Marathi will have to be spoken here.
A video of this incident has gone viral on social media. After this, on Tuesday, the police have registered a case against seven MNS workers at Kashimira police station.
First workers threatened the shopkeeper, then slapped
In the video, many MNS workers are seen arguing with the shopkeeper and arguing with him. A member tells the shopkeeper, ‘You asked me why should I speak Marathi? When you had trouble, you came to MNS office. ‘
The shopkeeper said in response that he did not know that it has become necessary to speak Marathi now. On this, a worker abuses the shopkeeper that he will not be allowed to do business in this area.
When the shopkeeper says that he has to learn Marathi, a MNS member says, ‘Yes, say so. But why are you asking why should Marathi learn? This is Maharashtra. Which language is spoken in Maharashtra?
When the shopkeeper says- ‘all languages’, a person slaps him, then another person also slaps him twice. The shopkeeper tries to explain something, but he is slapped four more times.
Raj Thackeray appealed to the Maharashtra government to make Marathi and English compulsory
Last month, MNS leader Raj Thackeray appealed to the Government of Maharashtra, saying, “He should issue written orders that children from the first grade will only be taught Marathi and English, Hindi will not be made mandatory.”
He told that the government had decided to teach three languages first and now Hindi books have also been printed. If the government now makes Hindi necessary again, then the MNS will agitate.
In Maharashtra, it was decided to implement the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 in Maharashtra on 16 April, under which Hindi was made compulsory third language for students of first to fifth grade in Marathi and English medium schools of the state.
However, many organizations and political parties in the state opposed to make Hindi mandatory. Due to this, the state government withdrew its decision to make Hindi mandatory on 22 April. During a conversation with reporters, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had said that students will be able to choose a third language from their minds. Hindi will not be compulsory.