Maharashtra BJP leader and minister Ashish Shelar on July 6, 2025, drew a powerful comparison between the Pahalgam terror attack in April - which claimed 26 lives based on religious identity - and recent violent incidents targeting Hindi-speaking individuals in Mumbai and Mira Road. He highlighted that while terrorists in Pahalgam asked victims their religion before shooting them, mobs in Maharashtra are now attacking people “just because of the language they speak”.
The violence reportedly involved Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) activists assaulting a shopkeeper in Bhayandar and vandalizing investor Sushil Kedia’s office in Worli after he refused to speak Marathi. Shelar described the attacks as “deeply disappointing,” accusing some leaders of seemingly condoning these actions. He stressed that the BJP, while preserving Marathi pride, would protect both Marathi and non-Marathi residents, affirming "Marathi is not a political issue for us".
His remarks appear politically aimed at the recent Thackeray cousins’ reunion - Uddhav and Raj - who rallied against the contentious three-language policy. The statements have intensified the political atmosphere ahead of looming civic elections, with calls from CM Devendra Fadnavis for strict action against such hooliganism.
