Patak-patak ke maarenge: BJP MP Warns Thackerays Against Targeting UP, Bihar Migrants

BJP MP Nishikant Dubey Slams Thackerays Over Attacks on North Indians, Issues Strong Warning.

BJP MP Nishikant Dubey on Monday launched a sharp attack on Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray and Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray over recent incidents of violence against Hindi-speaking individuals in Maharashtra. He dared the Thackeray cousins to try similar actions in states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, or Tamil Nadu.

“Come to UP, Bihar, or Tamil Nadu and try doing this. People will not tolerate it,” Dubey said, speaking to news agency ANI. His remarks came in the wake of videos showing MNS workers allegedly assaulting Hindi-speaking vendors for not conversing in Marathi.

Referring to a recent incident in Mumbai’s Mira Road area where a Hindi-speaking shopkeeper was slapped by MNS workers, Dubey challenged the Thackerays to visit areas like Mahim dargah and attempt such acts against Urdu-speaking individuals. “They won’t dare,” he said.

The controversy stems from rising tensions over the use of Hindi in Maharashtra, which escalated after the state government rolled back the proposed three-language policy—originally aimed at mandating Hindi, English, and Marathi in schools—following strong opposition from both Raj and Uddhav Thackeray. The Thackerays termed it an attempt to impose Hindi on the Marathi-speaking population.

Addressing the broader economic and demographic context, Dubey asserted that states like Bihar, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh contribute significantly to Maharashtra’s economy through business and taxation, pointing to investments by major industrial houses like Reliance and the Tata Group. “Maharashtra’s growth owes much to migrants from Hindi-speaking states,” he said, calling the attacks “cheap, divisive acts.”

Raj Thackeray, in an earlier controversial comment, had told his party workers to act against those who “create drama,” but advised them not to record videos of such incidents. “Let the person who gets beaten say it—no need to make videos,” he said.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) leader and BJP ally Yogesh Kadam criticised Dubey’s comments, saying they were unbecoming of a senior Parliamentarian. “This kind of arrogance won’t be tolerated. He’s a four-time MP—his language should reflect that,” Kadam said.

The recent Mira Road assault, caught on camera, has sparked widespread political uproar. In the footage, two MNS workers are seen slapping a shopkeeper who allegedly refused to speak in Marathi. The MNS defended its actions, warning that any perceived insult to the Marathi language would draw a similar response.

Despite their long-standing political rivalry, Raj and Uddhav Thackeray recently shared the stage at a joint rally celebrating the rollback of the language policy. Uddhav later clarified that he is not against Hindi or North Indians, but firmly opposes what he called “Hindi imposition” in Maharashtra.

The issue continues to generate strong reactions across party lines, sharpening the debate over language, migration, and identity politics in the state.