Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut slams BJP Minister Ashish Shelar for comparing Hindi-Marathi row to Pahalgam attack

Speaking to reporters, Sanjay Raut said, "A few people refuse to accept the culture and the Marathi language. If not in Maharashtra, where would the Marathi language be - in Pakistan, Bangladesh, or Nepal? If people do a movement for any language, Ashish Shelar compares them to terrorists of Pahalgam. It's wrong, and it shows the BJP's mindset."

Earlier on Sunday, Maharashtra Minister Ashish Shelar compared the agony of the Pahalgam terror attack, where Hindus were killed in the name of religion, and those getting "beaten up" in the name of language. He said that these incidents were distressing for him.

"All these incidents cause pain, suffering, and mental distress. In Pahalgam, they shot them after asking about their religion. And here, they beat up the innocent Hindus just because of the language they speak. Such cases create a disturbance," Shelar said.

His remarks come after incidents of violence and vandalism were reported in the state amid the ongoing Hindi-Marathi controversy.

Five workers of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) were arrested in connection with the vandalism at entrepreneur Sushil Kedia's office in Worli, police said on Saturday. A case has been registered against them under Sections 223, 189(2), 189(3), 190, 191(2), 191(3), and 125 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.

In another incident, as per a viral video, a group of men allegedly associated with a regional party beat up a shop owner for not speaking in Marathi. The incident occurred in the Mira-Bhayandar area near Mumbai.

Meanwhile, on the July 5 "victory rally" by Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray, Raut said, "The grand victory rally is being talked about everywhere. Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray were clear in their stand, as expected by people."

Attacking BJP and Shiv Sena, he asked, "Do you control Thackeray? Why won't you let Marathi people unite?" (ANI)