Mumbai: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray has landed in controversy after a group of advocates filed a formal complaint against him for allegedly delivering a provocative and inflammatory speech that could further ignite tensions over the ongoing Marathi-Hindi language row in Maharashtra.
The complaint, addressed to the Director General of Police (DGP), has been submitted by advocates Nityanand Sharma, Pankaj Kumar Mishra, and Ashish Rai. It pertains to Thackeray’s remarks during a victory rally of the Thackeray brothers held on July 5 at Worli Dome in Mumbai.
According to the complaint, Thackeray's speech allegedly encouraged hostility toward non-local residents and posed a threat to communal harmony and national security. The advocates demanded that Thackeray be booked under the stringent National Security Act (NSA) and that criminal charges be registered under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The letter accuses Thackeray of using “hate-filled, inflammatory, and provocative” language aimed at residents from other states. Of particular concern is his reported instruction to MNS supporters to avoid recording any videos if any incident occurred involving outsiders—an alleged attempt to encourage unlawful activity and suppress evidence.
The complainants also claim that Thackeray’s speech has led to a spike in harassment and physical assaults against non-Marathi-speaking individuals. In recent weeks, several cases have surfaced in which people from outside Maharashtra were allegedly forced to speak Marathi and faced abuse for non-compliance.
Calling the situation grave and unconstitutional, the advocates warned that such rhetoric from a public figure has the potential to incite widespread unrest. They urged the authorities to take swift legal action against Thackeray to prevent further violence and uphold the rule of law.
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