Ashish Shelar Compares MNS’ Assault Over Marathi With Pahalgam Attack: ‘What's The Difference?’

Last Updated:July 06, 2025, 19:06 IST

Ashish Shelar said while terrorists had targeted tourists in Pahalgam based on their religion, people were being attacked in the state on linguistic lines, which was disappointing.

His remarks come amid growing political tension over the alleged imposition of Hindi and a spate of violent incidents in the state. (X)

Amid the ongoing language row in Maharashtra, state minister and BJP leader Ashish Shelar on Sunday triggered a row after he drew parallels between the recent attacks on non-Marathi speaking people in Mumbai and the April 22’s Pahalgam terror attack, saying that the victims in both cases were “Hindus".

“In Pahalgam, people were killed because of their religion. Here in Maharashtra, Hindus are being assaulted only because of the language they speak. What’s the difference?" Shelar said while addressing a press conference in Mumbai as quoted by news agency PTI.

He further said while terrorists had targeted tourists in Pahalgam based on their religion, people were being attacked in the state on linguistic lines, which was disappointing.

“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 disturbance…" he said as quoted by news agency ANI.

In one of the biggest attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, Lashkar-linked terrorists opened fire on a group of tourists in Pahalgam on Tuesday, April 22, killing at least 26 people, including foreign tourists, and injuring many others. The Resistance Front (TRF), a Lashkar offshoot, claimed responsibility for the attack, although it later backtracked after massive global outrage.

The minister further took a veiled attack on Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and his cousin and MNS chief Raj Thackeray, who reunited on Saturday at a joint rally for the cause of Marathi people, saying that the state is watching how some leaders are "enjoying other Hindus being beaten up".

Shelar later asserted that the BJP would defend the dignity of Marathi people, and would stand by non-Marathi residents and ensure their protection. “Marathi is not a political issue for us," he said.

Referring to speeches made at the joint rally of Uddhav and Raj Thackeray, he said, “As far as yesterday’s program is concerned, one brother’s speech is incomplete, and the other’s is irrelevant. What Raj Thackeray said was not complete. He discussed Marathi, but did not elaborate on the entire topic."

The Slapgate Row

Shelar’s remarks came amid heightened tensions following multiple incidents in Mumbai where workers of Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) attacked shopkeepers and migrant workers allegedly for speaking Hindi instead of Marathi.

Recently, a viral video showed a shopkeeper in the Mira-Bhayandar area being thrashed by individuals reportedly affiliated with the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) for allegedly refusing to speak in Marathi.

In another incident, five MNS workers were arrested for vandalising the office of Mumbai-based share market investor Sushil Kedia’s office in Worli after he declared he would not speak Marathi and dared the party chief Raj Thackeray.

Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis had earlier warned of strict legal action against those engaging in violence in the name of language.

The row over speaking Marathi is escalating into a major political flashpoint ahead of the civic polls.

Union Minister Backs Shelar

Meanwhile, Union Minister Ramdas Athawale supported Shelar’s statement, saying, “Just as terrorists targeted tourists in Pahalgam based on religion, Raj Thackeray’s party workers are attacking people asking them to speak Marathi."

He also posed a question to Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray that “if people from Hindu community are being attacked, would you sit quietly, do you not follow Balasaheb’s line of thinking?"

What’s The Three-Language Row?

The Hindi language row erupted after the BJP-led Maharashtra government issued a Government Resolution (GR) making the learning of the language compulsory in primary schools.

Amid the growing backlash from MNS and Shiv Sena (UBT), the government amended the GR to make Hindi the "generally" third language before finally withdrawing both orders on June 29.

The issue of Marathi identity and the "imposition" of Hindi is believed to be a catalyst for reuniting Uddhav and Raj Thackeray after almost 20 years on Saturday at a joint "victory" rally to celebrate the government’s decision to scrap the GRs under the three-language policy.

With elections to the high-profile Mumbai civic body and other municipal corporations approaching, the BJP waded into the language row, with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis asserting that those resorting to violence over the Hindi language will face legal action.

Addressing the joint rally, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray defended the Marathi pride, saying, We are goons if we have to do hooliganism for justice.

On his part, Raj Thackeray asked the MNS cadres not to attack anyone over the language without provocation.

(With inputs from agencies)

News politics Ashish Shelar Compares MNS’ Assault Over Marathi With Pahalgam Attack: ‘What's The Difference?’