Mumbai: MNS Intervenes After Marathi-Speaking Residents Called ‘Unclean’ for Eating Non-Veg

Mumbai, 19th April 2025: Tensions flared in Mumbai’s Ghatkopar locality on Thursday following a dispute between members of the Gujarati and Marathi-speaking communities over the alleged consumption of non-vegetarian food. The situation escalated to such an extent that police intervention was required to restore order.

Members of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) entered the fray, accusing some residents of disrespecting their Marathi neighbours due to their dietary choices. The incident reportedly began when Marathi-speaking families were allegedly referred to as “unclean” for consuming non-vegetarian food.

A video now circulating widely on social media shows MNS workers confronting members of the housing society. In the footage, local MNS leader Raj Parte is heard saying, “Anyone can come to Mumbai and live here, but no one has the right to dictate food habits. We will not tolerate this humiliation.” He also alleged that four Marathi families were being discriminated against and labelled derogatorily.

In response, one of the residents argued that there were no restrictions placed on food choices within the society. As the verbal spat intensified, some residents contacted the Ghatkopar Police, who arrived at the scene to defuse the situation. According to an eyewitness quoted by PTI, police advised the society members to treat all residents with respect, warning that any further complaints could result in legal consequences.

No formal complaint had been lodged at the police station as of Thursday, and there was no official comment from the Gujarati residents accused of the discriminatory remarks. The video also features Parte alleging that in another nearby housing society, Marathi-speaking families had been barred from cooking non-vegetarian food and forced to rely on external food deliveries.

Commenting on the controversy, Maharashtra’s IT and Cultural Affairs Minister Ashish Shelar stated that looking down upon Marathi-speaking individuals, their language, or their culture is intolerable. “The government is firm in its stance that Marathi culture must be respected. We cannot allow linguistic or cultural discrimination,” Shelar asserted.

This incident comes amid renewed efforts by the MNS to push for wider usage of Marathi in public spaces, including banks and government offices. The party and the undivided Shiv Sena have long claimed that Marathi speakers often face housing discrimination due to their dietary preferences, an issue now gaining traction ahead of the upcoming municipal elections in Mumbai.