Autorickshaw driver thrashed by Shiv Sena UBT workers over 'anti-Marathi' remarks; video goes viral

A video showing an autorickshaw driver being beaten up allegedly by Shiv Sena (UBT) workers in Virar in Maharashtra's Palghar district for 'anti-Marathi' remarks has gone viral on social media, further fuelling controversy over the language issue in the state.

Police on Sunday said they have seen the video but not received any formal complaint in the matter so far, hence no case has been registered as of now.

Referring to the episode, a leader from the ‘Uttar Bharatiya (North Indian)’ community has condemned “attempts to incite violence” and urged the state government to take strict action.

A local functionary of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena (UBT) claimed the autorickshaw driver was taught a befitting lesson and asserted that anyone insulting the Marathi language and the state will be given a reply in the "true Shiv Sena style".

The autorickshaw driver, originally from Uttar Pradesh, had allegedly made derogatory remarks against the Marathi language, Maharashtra and Marathi icons. Its clip had also earlier surfaced on social media, drawing sharp reactions online and from local political groups.

Sources said the driver's anti-Marathi rant was triggered by an argument with a scooter rider concerning overtaking four days ago. When the scooter rider insisted that he speak in Marathi, the autorickshaw driver refused, claiming he would only speak in Hindi or Bhojpuri.

The video clip was recorded by bystanders, they added.

In the new video of the confrontation, which took place on Saturday, the auto-rickshaw driver is seen being slapped allegedly by a group of Shiv Sena (UBT) workers, including women, on a busy road near Virar railway station.

He is then made to publicly apologise to a man and his sister, with whom he allegedly misbehaved earlier, as well as to the state for "insulting" it and its linguistic and cultural heritage.

Shiv Sena (UBT) Virar city chief Uday Jadhav, who was present at the scene, later justified the action.

"If anyone dares to insult the Marathi language, Maharashtra, or Marathi people, they will get a reply in the true Shiv Sena style. We will not sit silent," Jadhav told reporters.

"The driver had the audacity to speak ill of Maharashtra and Marathi manoos. He was taught a befitting lesson. We made him apologise to the people of the state and to those he had offended," he added.

When contacted, a senior police official confirmed the incident occurred on Saturday, but said no formal complaint had been lodged so far.

"We have seen the viral video and are verifying the facts, but as of now, no complaint has been received from either party," the official said.

Meanwhile, Shivpratap Singh, a leader from the ‘Uttar Bharatiya (North Indian)’ community, condemned “attempts to incite violence” and appealed to the state government to take strict legal action against those taking the law into their own hands.

Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Singh said the issue has been simmering for decades.

Referring to the assault on the auto driver, he said, “If someone doesn’t know how to speak Marathi, he will try to learn. Will you make him speak Marathi by using violence?” Creating communal or regional discord in the name of Marathi or Hindi is unacceptable, he said.

The Hindi-Marathi row was ignited in the state, especially in the Mumbai metropolitan region, after opposition parties like the Shiv Sena (UBT) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena took on the government over two GRs on the three-language policy in schools and teaching of Hindi from Class I.

The Devendra Fadnavis dispensation had to withdraw the two government resolutions, following which the Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS held a "victory rally" in Mumbai's Worli, the highlight of the event being estranged cousins Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray sharing the stage for the first time in nearly two decades.

Amid the language controversy, workers of the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) slapped a food stall owner at Bhayander in neighbouring Thane district on July 1 for not speaking in Marathi.

Traders from the area later staged a protest against it.

On July 8, the MNS and other groups led a protest march in Mira Bhayandar area to defend Marathi 'asmita' (pride) and counter the traders' agitation.

The march witnessed the detention of several activists by the police, with leaders and workers of the opposition Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP) also joining the protest.