Palghar / Virar, July 13, 2025
Auto Driver Beaten by Shivsena as could be seen in a widely circulated video and forced to apologize after allegedly refusing to speak Marathi. The assault was carried out by workers linked to Shiv Sena (UBT) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) near Virar station, a tense flashpoint in the state’s ‘Marathi asmita’ debate.
Table of Contents
Auto Driver Beaten by Shivsena – What Happened?
- A video first showed the driver declaring, “Main Hindi bolunga, main Bhojpuri bolunga… Marathi nahi bolunga” (“I will speak Hindi, Bhojpuri… I won’t speak Marathi”).
- In the viral follow-up footage, a group including Shiv Sena (UBT) activists—some led by city chief Uday Jadhav—surrounds him, slaps him repeatedly, and compels him to apologize for insulting the Marathi language, culture, and Maharashtra. Cheers of “Jai Shivaji Maharaj” can be heard.
- He is then forced to seek forgiveness to offended locals, including a youth and his sister, before the indignity ends.
Auto Driver Beaten by Shivsena – Political & Community Reactions
- Shiv Sena (UBT) defended the action. Uday Jadhav stated, “Anyone insulting Marathi will be answered in true Shiv Sena style.” Acknowledging the video’s circulation, he added that the driver was “taught a befitting lesson.”
- Police have viewed the clip but clarified no formal complaint has been filed; no FIR has been registered so far. Investigation is ongoing.
- The event is the latest in a series reflecting “political dadagiri” (intimidation) by regionalist parties like Shiv Sena (both factions) and MNS, sparking unease in Mumbai’s service sector.
Auto Driver Beaten by Shivsena – Broader Context
- The incident ignites continuing Marathi asmitā conflicts—periodic insistence that non-Marathi speakers use local language in public spaces and professions.
- Similar acts occurred recently: MNS activists beat a shopkeeper in Thane for not speaking Marathi, and Sena (UBT) protested by blackening Karnataka buses in Pune after a Kannada-speaking driver was attacked in Karnataka.
- These acts of linguistic vigilantism are part of a long-running pattern dating back to the 2008 UP-Bihar migrant attacks and other culture-based provocations.
Why It Matters
- The episode reignites debate on the fine line between regional pride and vigilantism, with critics warning such vigilantism undermines law and order.
- Minority rights and social harmony are at risk when informal public tribunals and assaults are mediated by political ideology.
- The effort to restore constitutional dignity and secure legal recourse for migrants and service workers remains critical amid escalating regional identity politics.
Public Reactions
🟢 Supportive of Marathi Pride (Pro-Sena/MNS View)
🔸 “This is Maharashtra, not Uttar Pradesh! Respect the local language or go back. Jai Maharashtra!“
— @MarathaWarrior96 (Twitter/X)
🔸 “Why is it so hard to learn basic Marathi if you’ve been working here for years? Stop insulting the soil that feeds you.“
— @PunekarAjit (Instagram)
🔸 “Glad someone taught him a lesson. Arrogance about not speaking Marathi won’t be tolerated.“
— @ShivPremi_KS (Facebook)
🔴 Critical of Violence & Intimidation
🔹 “Assaulting someone over language is Taliban-like behavior. Where’s the law? Where are the police?“
— @LawfulCitizen (X)
🔹 “No one deserves to be slapped and humiliated like this. The Constitution allows freedom of language and movement.“
— @mumbaikibeti (Instagram)
🔹 “This is not Marathi pride. This is political goondaism. Uddhav Thackeray should condemn this immediately.“
— @voiceofmumbai (Facebook)
⚖️ Neutral or Balanced Reactions
🔸 “Yes, people should respect local culture. But violence and mob justice? That’s not the Marathi way either.“
— @journalsofjustice (Twitter)
🔸 “Instead of beating him, someone should’ve taught him Marathi. That would’ve been real pride.“
— @humansofthane (Instagram)
😂 Humorous or Satirical Takes
🔹 “Next time I take a rickshaw in Mumbai, I’ll bring a Marathi phrasebook and a lawyer.“
— @chaibiscuitmemes (X)
🔹 “Imagine getting thrashed for not knowing ‘kuthlya station la jaaycha aahe?’“
— @sarcasticbhau (Twitter)
Summary
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Victim | Migrant auto driver near Virar station |
| Perpetrators | Shiv Sena (UBT) & MNS workers |
| Charges against victim | Insulting Marathi—“Marathi nahi bolunga” |
| Action taken | Video assault, forced apology |
| Police status | Investigation in progress; no FIR yet |
| Wider implications | Heightened tensions over linguistic identity and mob justice in Maharashtra |
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