'Won't Be Tolerated': Fadnavis On MNS Rally After Party Workers Detained Amid Marathi Row

Last Updated:July 08, 2025, 11:24 IST

Fadnavis said police had suggested an alternate route for the rally, but the MNS remained adamant on taking a specific route, which the cops denied permission for.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis (PTI Image)

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis slammed the pro-Marathi rally by the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) in Mumbai, which was scheduled at 10 am today, saying that such kind of experimentation would not work in the state.

Fadnavis said any group had to right to hold a march, but the route of any protest rally should be properly planned and take issues like traffic and daily life under consideration.

“The RTO and police suggested a route change due to traffic concerns, but the MNS remained adamant about taking a specific route, which the police denied permission for," the Chief Minister said. He asserted that the Marathi people are large-hearted, but won’t tolerate such “experiments."

Fadnavis was referring to the MNS rally in Mumbai, aimed at asserting the use of the Marathi language in commercial spaces and banks. The rally had not received police permission due to concerns over law and order.

MNS Worker Arrested

In a significant move, the police detained local MNS leader Avinash Jadhav early on Tuesday ahead of a rally planned in Thane as the state is experiencing high tensions over the Marathi language row.

The police had issued orders restraining the entry of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena’s (MNS) Thane and Palghar head Avinash Jadhav, who was supposed to participate in the rally, in the Mira Bhayander area, according to officials. He was detained at his house in Thane at around 3.30 am, an official from the Thane police control room told news agency PTI.

What’s The Controversy?

The controversy stems from a July 1 incident, where a food stall owner in Bhayander was assaulted by men allegedly affiliated with the MNS for not speaking in Marathi. At least seven MNS workers were detained in the case, later released with notices.

Traders in the area had staged a protest, demanding action against those who assaulted the food stall owner. In response, the MNS planned a counter-protest to assert their stand on the use of Marathi in commercial spaces and banks, a long-standing agenda of the party.

News politics 'Won't Be Tolerated': Fadnavis On MNS Rally After Party Workers Detained Amid Marathi Row