Thane: The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) created a stir at a Bank of Maharashtra branch in Ambernath following a dispute over the use of the Marathi language. The controversy arose when the bank manager, who did not speak Marathi, engaged in an argument with MNS workers regarding the language. This led to an aggressive protest by the party members inside the bank.
A video posted on the official account on MNS on X shows the scenes of the heated argument between the party workers and the bank manager. "We are government servants and we get transferred to anywhere across the country. If we go to Tamil Nadu tomorrow, we will have to learn Tamil. It takes time to learn any language," said the manager who has been reportedly leading the Ambernath branch for one and a half years. MNS workers then asked how much more time it will take to learn Marathi?
MNS workers stated that, according to the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) new guidelines, banking services in Maharashtra should be conducted in Marathi. However, when they visited the bank and initiated a conversation in Marathi, the manager not only refused to respond in the language but allegedly gave an insulting reply. This infuriated the MNS workers, who demanded immediate action.
Key MNS leaders, including city president Kunal Bhoir, city coordinator Swapnil Bagul, and Vidyarthi Sena district president Dhananjay Gurav, led the protest. They warned the bank authorities that if employees failed to conduct transactions in Marathi, the party would resort to its signature aggressive style of agitation.
MNS chief Raj Thackeray had earlier raised the issue of Marathi during his Gudi Padwa speech, stressing that Marathi should be used in all government offices. He instructed party workers and office-bearers to actively promote the language. Following these directives, MNS has intensified its stance.
MNS Workers Visit Banks To Promote Use Of Marathi
On Tuesday, senior MNS leader Avinash Jadhav, along with city president Ravindra More and other activists, entered a State Bank of India (SBI) branch. They removed English-language signboards and met with bank officials, instructing them to prioritise Marathi.
Jadhav revealed that a woman had lodged a complaint about the non-use of Marathi at this branch, prompting their visit. He noted that even inside the manager's cabin, signboards were in English. The activists demanded that all signage be converted into Marathi and criticised the bank for appointing mostly non-Maharashtrian employees at higher positions. According to Jadhav, nearly 95% of the bank accounts at the branch belonged to Marathi-speaking customers, yet Marathi was not being used. He issued a stern warning, stating that if changes were not made, the bank would face severe backlash.
MNS has announced plans to visit all government and private banks in Thane to enforce Marathi usage. Jadhav even warned that those refusing to adopt Marathi might face physical consequences. "Wherever Marathi is disrespected, our hands and legs will do the talking," he declared.
L&T Security Guard Assaulted Over Disrespecting Marathi
A similar incident occurred earlier this month when a video surfaced online showing a security guard at L&T in Powai allegedly disrespecting Marathi. The clip captured him saying, "Marathi gaya tel lagane" (Marathi can go to hell).
Furious over the insult, MNS workers rushed to the site and confronted the guard. Reports suggest that the enraged activists physically assaulted him, further escalating tensions over the Marathi language issue.
