Shiv Sena (UBT) Workers Assault Auto-Rickshaw Driver Over ‘Anti-Marathi’ Remarks: ‘Given a Befitting Reply’

An auto-rickshaw driver was allegedly assaulted by workers of the Shiv Sena (UBT) in Maharashtra’s Palghar district over remarks deemed “anti-Marathi,” escalating the ongoing language controversy in the state, according to a PTI report.

A video of the incident, which occurred near Virar railway station on Saturday, has gone viral on social media. In the footage, the driver — a migrant — is seen being slapped by a group of Shiv Sena (UBT) workers, including women, on a busy road. He is then forced to publicly apologise to a man and his sister, with whom he had allegedly misbehaved earlier, and also to the state of Maharashtra for "insulting" its language and culture.

The confrontation reportedly stemmed from a previous video in which the driver allegedly made derogatory comments about the Marathi language, the state of Maharashtra, and revered Marathi icons. That video triggered outrage among local political groups and prompted swift retaliation.

Speaking to the media, a local Shiv Sena (UBT) leader claimed the driver was “taught a lesson.” Uday Jadhav, the party's Virar city chief, who was present during the incident, defended the group’s actions.

“If anyone dares to insult the Marathi language, Maharashtra, or Marathi people, they will get a reply in true Shiv Sena style. We will not remain silent,” he said. “The driver had the audacity to speak ill of Maharashtra and Marathi manoos. He was made to apologise to the people of the state and those he offended.”

Despite the public nature of the incident and the viral video evidence, the police confirmed that no formal complaint has been filed yet. “We are aware of the incident and are verifying the facts. However, no complaint has been received from either party so far,” a senior official said.

This episode follows a similar incident just days earlier in Thane's Bhayander area, where men wearing scarves of Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) assaulted a shopkeeper for refusing to speak in Marathi. That led to a protest by local traders, which the MNS countered with a march of their own.

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