Five Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) supporters were arrested in Mumbai on Saturday following an attack on investor Sushil Kedia`s office in Worli. The incident occurred after Kedia`s controversial social media post about not learning Marathi and his “kya karna hai bol” (what do you want to do, tell me) challenge directed at MNS chief Raj Thackeray.
Hours after the vandalism, Kedia issued an apology for his social media comments, claiming he had “overreacted” and expressing admiration for Thackeray, reported PTI .
Meanwhile, Kedia stated that he had uploaded the post “in a wrong state of mind under duress and stress” and wished to “correct it unequivocally” after realising his mistake.
“Having come under pressure mentally from the violence inflicted on those who do not know Marathi, I ended up over-reacting,” Kedia explained, adding, “I realise I must take back my over-reactions and withdraw.”
However, in his apology video, Kedia admitted that even after living in Mumbai for 30 years, he hadn`t achieved the proficiency in Marathi that a native speaker would possess. He mentioned using Marathi only in informal situations to avoid “embarrassments or confusions,” a challenge he hadn`t faced with the seven other Indian languages he learned over time.
Kedia further expressed deep appreciation for Raj Thackeray`s stance on significant issues, particularly his strong advocacy for the Hanuman Chalisa campaign (during Uddhav Thackeray`s tenure as chief minister), and his championing of Hindutva and `rashtrawad` (nationalism), according to PTI.
The investor had incurred the wrath of the Raj Thackeray-led party on Friday. His social media post, targeting Thackeray, was made after recent incidents where individuals were reportedly assaulted over the non-use of Marathi, linked to the controversy surrounding the “imposition” of Hindi and the three-language policy in state schools.
While, Kedia`s exact words on X were: “I don`t know Marathi properly even after living for 30 years in Mumbai & with your gross misconduct I have made it a resolve that until such people as you are allowed to pretend to be taking care of Marathi Manus I take pratigya I won`t learn Marathi. Kya karna hai bol?”
However, in direct response to this provocative post, MNS supporters, chanting slogans in favour of Thackeray and Marathi, threw coconuts at the glass door entrance of Kedia`s office this morning. Videos of the attack quickly went viral on social media, showing security personnel attempting to thwart the attack unsuccessfully, while office staff tried to lower shutters to protect themselves from the projectiles.
Following the incident, a Worli police station official confirmed that five MNS supporters have been arrested, and further investigation is underway. Police had, in fact, provided security to Kedia`s office at Century Bazar after his post began generating significant backlash from MNS supporters.
Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Ramdas Athawale, condemned the MNS`s actions. He criticised the MNS for using “anti-constitutional methods” despite supporting the Marathi cause.
“The MNS` stand is that if you don`t speak Marathi then you will get slapped. This is unconstitutional. Bullying in the name of Marathi is not right,” Athawale asserted.
Moreover, he said, “We are with you (MNS) on the issue of Marathi but with them (BJP) on the issue of Hindi.” Athawale maintained that while insistence on Marathi is correct, teaching Hindi to six-year-olds from Class I was “not right.”
(With inputs from PTI)
