Another case of violence over linguistic politics came to light from Virar, Palghar district, Maharashtra. A migrant auto-rickshaw driver was brutally beaten in full public display by the supporters of Uddhav Shiv Sena (UBT) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) after a prior confrontation video over the use of the Marathi language had gone viral on social media.
In a brazen display of political hooliganism, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) workers assaulted a 48-year-old sweetshop owner in Mumbai's Mira Road suburb on 29th June, sparking statewide outrage over escalating language-based violence and the tacit endorsement of such tactics by regional parties. The incident, captured on video and circulated by the perpetrators themselves, reveals a disturbing pattern of intimidation tactics employed by Raj Thackeray's party as elections approach.
“FIR registered against MNS leader Sandeep Deshpande and 8 others under Maharashtra police act 37, 135, for burning an effigy of Aurangzeb in the aftermath of Kolhapur protests,” informed the Mumbai Police.
MNS asserted that the encroachment onto the hill began 15 years ago and that the "dargah" is a threat to national security because it is close to the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport.