In response to a viral video from Thane district in Maharashtra, which depicts a shop owner being attacked allegedly for not speaking Marathi, Union Minister Chirag Paswan has vehemently condemned the act.

While addressing reporters in Vaishali, Bihar, on Friday, Paswan remarked, “I cannot comprehend how many divisions will be formed among Indians — at times based on region, at other times on language, religion, or caste.” While he champions the importance of pride in one’s native language, the minister called for sensitivity and mutual respect.

“I endorse the notion that one’s mother tongue should be a source of pride, but we must exercise enough sensitivity to understand that if someone from outside does not grasp it, it does not justify our intolerance or lead us to violence,” he stated.

Emphasizing India’s rich multicultural identity, Paswan noted, “From the north to the south, and from the east to the west, we have a variety of languages and cultures. Our identity has always been rooted in unity amidst diversity.

” He further accused certain political figures of fostering divisive agendas for their own benefit. “However, some leaders, in pursuit of their ambitions, engage in such divisive politics, and I denounce this,” he expressed. The incident in Thane has ignited significant outrage across social media.

On Friday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis issued a warning regarding strict legal measures against individuals participating in “hooliganism” under the guise of Marathi pride. He emphasized that the Mahayuti government will not accept violence directed at ordinary citizens.

“Being proud of the Marathi language in Maharashtra is not an issue. However, if anyone resorts to hooliganism in the name of language, we will not stand for it. Acts of violence based on language will be met with zero tolerance. The police have already registered an FIR and taken action regarding the incident, and any future attempts to incite language-related disputes will result in legal consequences.”