MNS Supporters’ ‘Learn Or Leave’ Message Over Marathi Row: ‘If Migrants Want To Feed Family…’

SOURCE ; NEW18

Last Updated:May 17, 2025, 10:49 IST

Raj Thackeray’s reaction came after a pizza delivery person in Mumbai was allegedly harassed by a mother-son duo, who refused to pay him for not speaking in Marathi.

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray seems to have added a new spark to the language row by categorically mentioning that Maharashtra is the land of “only Marathi people”, and those who cannot learn the language will have to “leave the land”. His reaction came after a pizza delivery person in Mumbai was allegedly harassed by a mother-son duo, who refused to pay him for not speaking in Marathi.

“Maharashtra is the land of only Marathi people! Migrants come only to feed their families, if they want to feed their families, they will have to learn Marathi. Otherwise, leave our land. (sic),” Thackeray wrote while sharing a poster of himself that quotes him: “If you can’t support the language of the state you live in, then live in a state that supports your language.”

The MNS chief’s message was an extention of his X post on May 15 that shows workers of his party allegedly forcing the pizza delivery person to apologise for arguing with the mother-son duo over the language. The man can be heard saying on camera, “Mai Marathi seekhunga bhi aur bolunga bhi (I will learn Marathi and speak the language).”

An Army veteran, @CaptPKRajRif, asked Thackeray if the same logic can be applied to Marathas working elsewhere in India.

Another user wrote, “Maharashtra doesn’t belong to Maratha people, just as any other state doesn’t belong to one linguistic group. Property belongs to the owner, not collective identities. You own your house, your vehicle, your land.”

Some netizens asserted that the language of communication should be one that is used by a larger group. “If you are living in India you should speak indian language and the common language is Hindi… If you can’t speak Hindi then learn Hindi otherwise leave our India,” user @Sumalika2000 wrote.

Another user, @NavinS27, claimed that Thackeray’s reaction seems out of all-India push for the Hindi language. “All the Hindiwalas should acknowledge the reactions their hindi thrust has caused. Hindiwalas want hindi, regional leaders want their own languages to dominate in reaction. The very policy of pushing Hindi should be scrapped else we will end up creating barriers amongst us,” he wrote.

The Pizza Delivery Boy Row

A video clip that went viral on Tuesday night shows Bhandup dentist Vaidehi Pathak and her son from Sai Radha Complex, who had ordered pizza from the local Domino’s outlet, insisting that the delivery boy Rohit Lavera, a native of Haryana, speak Marathi, otherwise they would refuse to pay for the order.

Pathak and the youth argued, with Pathak insisting that the youth should return to his home state if he did not know Marathi. The youth refused and questioned why he needed to speak the language. Pathak mentioned that it was the custom there and added that she did not know Hindi.

A minor dispute escalated into a citywide Marathi versus Hindi debate, leading to a police complaint and sparking reactions on social media.

Raj Thackeray’s Push For Marathi Language

During his Gudi Padwa rally on March 30, Raj Thackeray had emphasized the importance of using Marathi in official settings and warned of repercussions for those who intentionally avoid the language.

A month ago, the MNS chief had issued a strong warning to the Indian Banks Association, demanding urgent incorporation of Marathi language in banking services.

In a letter submitted by MNS leaders on April 9, Thackeray stressed that banks must follow the three-language formula—English, Hindi, and the regional language (Marathi in Maharashtra) — as mandated by the RBI.

He cautioned that failure to comply would lead to intensified protests, and banks would be held accountable for any consequent disruptions in law and order.

First Published:

May 17, 2025, 10:10 IST