BJP’s Ashish Shelar Likens MNS’ Marathi Assaults To Pahalgam Assault: ‘What’s The Distinction?’
Final Up to date:
Ashish Shelar mentioned whereas terrorists had focused vacationers in Pahalgam based mostly on their faith, folks have been being attacked within the state on linguistic traces, which was disappointing.
His remarks come amid rising political rigidity over the alleged imposition of Hindi and a spate of violent incidents within the state. (X)
Amid the continued language row in Maharashtra, state minister and BJP chief Ashish Shelar on Sunday triggered a row after he drew parallels between the current assaults on non-Marathi talking folks in Mumbai and the April 22’s Pahalgam terror assault, saying that the victims in each circumstances have been “Hindus”.
“In Pahalgam, folks have been killed due to their faith. Right here in Maharashtra, Hindus are being assaulted solely due to the language they communicate. What’s the distinction?” Shelar mentioned whereas addressing a press convention in Mumbai as quoted by information company PTI.
He additional mentioned whereas terrorists had focused vacationers in Pahalgam based mostly on their faith, folks have been being attacked within the state on linguistic traces, which was disappointing.
“All these incidents trigger ache, struggling, and psychological misery. In Pahalgam, they shot them after asking about their faith. And right here they beat up the harmless Hindus simply due to the language they communicate. Such circumstances create disturbance…” he mentioned as quoted by information company ANI.
#WATCH | Mumbai: On Marathi language row, Maharashtra Minister Ashish Shelar says, “All these incidents trigger ache, struggling, and psychological misery. In Pahalgam, they shot them after asking about their faith. And right here they beat up the harmless Hindus simply due to the… pic.twitter.com/rXAa3iskQc— ANI (@ANI) July 6, 2025
In one of many largest assaults in Jammu and Kashmir, Lashkar-linked terrorists opened fireplace on a bunch of vacationers in Pahalgam on Tuesday, April 22, killing at the very least 26 folks, together with overseas vacationers, and injuring many others. The Resistance Entrance (TRF), a Lashkar offshoot, claimed accountability for the assault, though it later backtracked after large international outrage.
The minister additional took a veiled assault on Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and his cousin and MNS chief Raj Thackeray, who reunited on Saturday at a joint rally for the reason for Marathi folks, saying that the state is watching how some leaders are “having fun with different Hindus being overwhelmed up”.
Shelar later asserted that the BJP would defend the dignity of Marathi folks, and would stand by non-Marathi residents and guarantee their safety. “Marathi is just not a political challenge for us,” he mentioned.
Referring to speeches made on the joint rally of Uddhav and Raj Thackeray, he mentioned, “So far as yesterday’s program is worried, one brother’s speech is incomplete, and the opposite’s is irrelevant. What Raj Thackeray mentioned was not full. He mentioned Marathi, however didn’t elaborate on the complete matter.”
The Slapgate Row
Shelar’s remarks got here amid heightened tensions following a number of incidents in Mumbai the place staff of Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) attacked shopkeepers and migrant staff allegedly for talking Hindi as a substitute of Marathi.
Lately, a viral video confirmed a shopkeeper within the Mira-Bhayandar space being thrashed by people reportedly affiliated with the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) for allegedly refusing to talk in Marathi.
In one other incident, 5 MNS staff have been arrested for vandalising the workplace of Mumbai-based share market investor Sushil Kedia’s workplace in Worli after he declared he wouldn’t communicate Marathi and dared the celebration chief Raj Thackeray.
Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis had earlier warned of strict authorized motion in opposition to these partaking in violence within the identify of language.
The row over talking Marathi is escalating into a serious political flashpoint forward of the civic polls.
Union Minister Backs Shelar
In the meantime, Union Minister Ramdas Athawale supported Shelar’s assertion, saying, “Simply as terrorists focused vacationers in Pahalgam based mostly on faith, Raj Thackeray’s celebration staff are attacking folks asking them to talk Marathi.”
He additionally posed a query to Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray that “if folks from Hindu neighborhood are being attacked, would you sit quietly, do you not observe Balasaheb’s line of pondering?”
What’s The Three-Language Row?
The Hindi language row erupted after the BJP-led Maharashtra authorities issued a Authorities Decision (GR) making the training of the language obligatory in main colleges.
Amid the rising backlash from MNS and Shiv Sena (UBT), the federal government amended the GR to make Hindi the “typically” third language earlier than lastly withdrawing each orders on June 29.
The difficulty of Marathi id and the “imposition” of Hindi is believed to be a catalyst for reuniting Uddhav and Raj Thackeray after virtually 20 years on Saturday at a joint “victory” rally to have a good time the federal government’s determination to scrap the GRs beneath the three-language coverage.
With elections to the high-profile Mumbai civic physique and different municipal companies approaching, the BJP waded into the language row, with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis asserting that these resorting to violence over the Hindi language will face authorized motion.
Addressing the joint rally, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray defended the Marathi satisfaction, saying, We’re goons if now we have to do hooliganism for justice.
On his half, Raj Thackeray requested the MNS cadres to not assault anybody over the language with out provocation.
(With inputs from companies)
Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and Worldwide information. He’s fascinated with daily political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) diploma from Ben…Learn Extra
Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and Worldwide information. He’s fascinated with daily political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) diploma from Ben… Learn Extra
- First Revealed:
