‘Dubo Dubo Ke Maarenge’: Raj Thackeray Hits Back at Nishikant Dubey’s ‘dubo dubo ke maarenge’

‘Dubo Dubo Ke Maarenge’: Raj Thackeray Hits Back at BJP MP Over ‘Patak Patak’ Remark.

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Friday responded sharply to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Nishikant Dubey’s recent “patak patak ke maarenge” remark, issuing a fiery warning at a public rally in Mira-Bhayandar.

Reacting to Dubey’s provocative comment—seen as an attack on Marathi-speaking people—Thackeray said, “A BJP MP said ‘Marathi logon ko yahan patak patak ke maarenge.’ Tell him to come to Mumbai. Here, we will dubo dubo ke maarenge in the sea.” His words drew loud applause from the MNS supporters in attendance.

The war of words began after Dubey, without naming Thackeray, had recently challenged a “bahut bade boss” to step outside Maharashtra. Speaking in Jharkhand, the BJP leader had said: “If you have the courage to attack Hindi speakers, then go attack those who speak Urdu, Tamil, Telugu. Come to Bihar, UP, Tamil Nadu — you will be thrashed patak patak ke. This anarchy won’t work.”

The row comes amid renewed protests in Maharashtra over the promotion of Hindi. MNS has been vocally opposing the imposition of Hindi in the state, especially after the state government initially pushed for Hindi in primary school education.

In one incident, MNS workers reportedly assaulted a shopkeeper for refusing to speak in Marathi — further intensifying the ‘Hindi vs Marathi’ debate.

Facing backlash, the BJP-led Maharashtra government rolled back two government resolutions that would have mandated Hindi in primary schools. CM Devendra Fadnavis has since clarified that the three-language formula will be implemented, with a committee to decide from which class Hindi will be introduced.

Thackeray, however, remained defiant, warning that the MNS will escalate its agitation if Hindi is imposed in early schooling. “We shut shops once. If needed, we won’t hesitate to shut down schools if Hindi is forced on us,” he warned.

He also accused the government of using Hindi imposition as a trial balloon for a larger agenda. “This is part of a plan to eventually attach Mumbai to Gujarat,” he alleged.

Thackeray further contrasted the historic legacies of the two languages. “Marathi is 2,500 to 3,000 years old, while Hindi is just 200 years old,” he said, defending the state’s linguistic identity.

Taking a dig at what he called selective outrage, Thackeray added, “When Bihari migrants were beaten up in Gujarat, it wasn’t a national issue. But even a small incident in Maharashtra becomes a national headline.”