A grocery shopkeeper in south Mumbai triggered a political storm after allegedly asking a woman customer to converse in Marwari instead of Marathi, claiming that a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government is now in power in Maharashtra.
The incident occurred on Monday in Khetwadi, where the woman from Girgaon was shopping at Mahadev Stores. According to her, the shopkeeper insisted she speak Marwari, saying, “The BJP has now come to power here. Speak Marwari; Marathi will not work here.” Videos of the encounter quickly went viral, drawing outrage on social media.
Disheartened, the woman initially complained to Malabar Hill BJP MLA Mangal Prabhat Lodha but claimed she received no response. Turning to the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), led by Raj Thackeray, she found immediate support. MNS workers summoned the shopkeeper to their office, where he apologized to the woman and the Marathi community. In a viral video, the shopkeeper can be seen admitting his mistake and being reprimanded by MNS activists.
MNS leaders condemned the incident, with Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut, Congress, and NCP leaders also weighing in, criticizing the shopkeeper’s remarks as divisive.
Amid growing backlash, MLA Lodha, himself of Rajasthani origin, issued a statement defending Marathi as Maharashtra’s identity. “Marathi is the mother tongue of this state and our identity. Mumbai belongs to everyone, but it belongs to the Marathi people first,” Lodha said, adding that any act of linguistic discrimination would not be tolerated. He also called for action against the shopkeeper.
The incident comes at a sensitive time as BJP prepares to form the state government. Lodha’s remarks appear to be an attempt to defuse tensions and reaffirm the party’s commitment to Maharashtra’s linguistic and cultural ethos.
Meanwhile, the shopkeeper’s comments have drawn widespread criticism, with calls for unity and respect for Maharashtra’s linguistic heritage taking center stage.