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A video showing an auto-rickshaw driver being assaulted, allegedly by Shiv Sena (UBT) workers 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, reported news agency PTI.

On Sunday, police stated they had seen the video but had not received any formal complaint regarding the matter so far; consequently, no case has been registered.

Meanwhile, a local functionary of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) claimed the auto-rickshaw driver was “taught a befitting lesson” and asserted that anyone insulting the Marathi language and the state would be given a reply in the “true Shiv Sena style”.

According to PTI, the auto-rickshaw driver, a migrant residing in the Virar area of Palghar, had allegedly made derogatory remarks against the Marathi language, Maharashtra, and Marathi icons. A clip of these remarks had also earlier surfaced on social media, drawing sharp reactions online and from local political groups.

Moreover, in the new video of the confrontation, which took place on Saturday, an 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 had 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, reported PTI.

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 stated.

Amidst the language controversy, workers of the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) slapped a food stall owner at Bhayander in the neighbouring Thane district on 1st July for not speaking in Marathi. However, following the incident, traders from the area later staged a protest against it.

Furthermore, on 8th July, the MNS and other groups led a protest march in the 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.

(With inputs from PTI)