Mumbai,  7 July 2025

A recent incident in Mira Road, Mumbai, where Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) workers allegedly assaulted a shopkeeper for not speaking in Marathi, has sparked a political firestorm. Seven MNS workers have been booked in connection with the attack.

Reacting to the controversy, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Nishikant Dubey made a provocative statement that has stirred further outrage. Referring to the treatment of non-Marathi speakers by MNS, Dubey took a swipe at the Thackeray brothers — Uddhav and Raj Thackeray — indirectly challenging them over their stance on migrants.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Dubey said, “Even a dog is like a tiger in his own home. If you have the courage…”, a remark that is being widely interpreted as both inflammatory and offensive. His use of the word "dog" in reference has drawn strong criticism and is expected to ignite fresh political backlash.

The comment is seen as a direct challenge to the MNS’s aggressive stance on promoting the Marathi language and opposing migrants, particularly those from other states who do not speak Marathi.

The verbal war between the BJP and MNS is escalating rapidly, with both sides trading sharp barbs over regional identity, language politics, and the treatment of migrant communities in Maharashtra.

As tensions rise, political observers fear that the rhetoric may further inflame social divisions in an already sensitive atmosphere.

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