Mumbai: A young man demanding the use of Marathi was forced to apologise by a mob recently, sparking a major controversy. The incident took place on Thursday in Mumbra when a Marathi youth, Vishal Gawli, asked a non-local fruit vendor to converse in Marathi.

In retaliation, the vendor and a crowd compelled him to apologise in Hindi and hold his ears. The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has expressed outrage over this incident, while the Mumbra police, instead of supporting the Marathi youth, filed a non-cognizable offence against him based on the complaints of the fruit vendors.

Avinash Jadhav Expresses Frustration Over Language Dispute Incidents

Speaking to Marathi news channels, MNS leader Avinash Jadhav said, “This is the fourth incident in the Thane district alone, following similar cases in Kalyan, Thane, and Nalasopara. If a boy asking someone to speak in Marathi has to apologize in Maharashtra, it is deeply unfortunate. What is the point of granting Marathi the status of a classical language if no laws are in place to protect its dignity?”

Jadhav stressed the need for laws alongside recognition of Marathi as a classical language. “If Marathi is not respected in Maharashtra, then what use is this status? There must be a law stating that derogatory remarks or refusal to acknowledge Marathi will result in legal action. I will approach the DCP about this incident. It is appalling that those opposing the youth had the audacity to shout slogans at the police station and demand action against him,” he stated. He also demanded immediate action against the mob, highlighting that the youth was threatened and humiliated for defending Marathi.

Jadhav’s Warning To Anyone Who Tries To Harm The Youth

Expressing strong support for Vishal Gawli, Jadhav declared, “The boy is scared now, but the MNS stands firmly by him. If anyone dares to harm him, we will enter their homes and show them what the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena is capable of.”

What Exactly Led To The Controversy?

The incident occurred when Vishal, visiting a fruit vendor to purchase goods, inquired about prices in Marathi. The vendor, Shoaib Qureshi, became agitated, stating he could only speak Hindi. When Vishal questioned why the vendor, living in Maharashtra, didn’t know Marathi, a heated argument broke out, drawing a large crowd. The mob forced Vishal to apologise, and a video of the incident went viral. The youth was eventually handed over to the police, who registered a case against him.

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court had directed the State government to ensure smooth implementation of Mukhyamantri ‘Majhi Ladki Bahin’ Scheme while disposing of a PIL by NGO Prameya Welfare Foundation.

The plea filed by the NGO sought directions to the state government for the effective implementation of the Scheme. The NGO highlighted challenges faced by eligible women in filing and uploading applications for the scheme, which was introduced in June 2024 and subsequently revised twice.

The state government, through an affidavit filed by the Deputy Secretary of the concerned department, informed the court about steps taken to address the initial difficulties. The affidavit stated that 11 agencies across various departments were assigned to assist women in submitting their applications. Of the 2.51 crore applications received, over 2.43 crore were deemed eligible, while approximately 90,000 were rejected.

However, the petitioner raised concerns over a new Government Resolution (GR) dated September 6, 2024, which limited the process to Anganwadi Sevikas at Anganwadi centers. Previously, 11 agencies facilitated the application process, but the GR reduced this support, raising fears of fresh hurdles for applicants, especially as the scheme had been revised multiple times.

During the hearing, the petitioner’s advocate argued that the reduction in facilitation agencies might discourage eligible women from applying, especially in rural areas where technological and logistical challenges persist.

A bench of Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Amit Borkar acknowledged the efforts made by the state to streamline the application process but emphasized the need to ensure that eligible women do not face difficulties due to changes in the scheme.

It directed the government to take appropriate measures to assist women in filing fresh applications, ensuring their access to the scheme’s benefits under the revised provisions. “State shall take appropriate steps so that all eligible women are able to exercise their right of seeking benefit under the altered/new scheme,” the bench said.

Mumbai: In the early hours of Friday morning, a major accident occurred at the Dharavi-Mahim junction when a large trailer lost control and collided with several parked vehicles, including taxis and tempos. In total, five vehicles were severely damaged, with some falling into a roadside gutter due to the impact. Fortunately, no injuries were reported in the incident.

Videos of the crash site show taxis and tempos fallen into the drain nearby, while the trailer involved in the crash can be seen stuck on the slope towards the drain.

Trailer Removed Using Crane To Avoid Traffic

The Sahunagar police and Mahim traffic police quickly arrived at the scene to manage the situation and assess the damage. To remove the large trailer from the accident site, the traffic police called in a small crane, ensuring that the road could be cleared for traffic flow. Investigations into the cause of the accident are underway.

BMC Shares Update On Accident

BMC Disaster Management said incident reported at 6.50 am of 4 to 5 vehicles falling into Mithi River. No information of injuries as of now. Location of accident was reported at Kemkar chowk, T junction, Sahu Nagar, near Abhinandan Bar in Dharavi.