Mumbai | July 8, 2025 —In a developing political flashpoint, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader Avinash Jadhav was taken into custody early Tuesday morning by Thane Police ahead of a planned rally in Mira Road. The march, scheduled to begin at 10 a.m., was intended to pass through key commercial zones inhabited largely by non-Marathi-speaking residents. Authorities, however, denied permission for the rally citing law and order concerns.
Jadhav, who serves as MNS Thane district president and was the organiser of the event, was detained from his residence at around 3:30 a.m., according to police sources. The Raj Thackeray-led MNS shared footage of his detention across social media platforms, condemning the move and framing it as an attack on the party's right to protest.
The rally had the support of the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti, but did not receive official clearance from local authorities due to concerns over traffic disruption and possible communal tensions. In response, the Mira Bhayander–Vasai Virar Police issued a prohibitory order banning Jadhav’s entry into the region for 24 hours. The order, signed by Deputy Commissioner of Police Prakash Gaikwad, cited Jadhav's criminal record—28 cognizable offences registered across various police stations—and the potential for unrest due to his presence.
Chief Minister Urges Responsibility Amid Rights
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis addressed the issue at a press briefing, stating that while the right to protest is protected, it must be exercised with restraint and responsibility.
“In Maharashtra, any group has the right to organise a protest. But the route and timing must consider public convenience and safety,” said Fadnavis.
He added that the MNS had been advised by the RTO and police to take an alternative route to minimise traffic disruption, a suggestion that the party reportedly refused.
“Political experiments under the pretext of language rights will not be tolerated. Marathi people are large-hearted, but if anyone tries to provoke unrest, it will be firmly dealt with,” he warned.
Background: Language Flashpoint
The protest plans stemmed from a July 1 incident in Bhayander, where a food stall vendor was allegedly assaulted by individuals wearing MNS insignia after refusing to speak in Marathi. The altercation, captured on video and widely circulated online, showed the vendor being slapped and threatened. Seven MNS members were briefly detained and released with legal notices. They were booked under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for rioting, assault, and criminal intimidation.
In the aftermath, non-Marathi traders and local residents staged demonstrations demanding action against the accused and greater protection from language-based coercion.
The MNS, which has long advocated for the primacy of Marathi in signage, banking, and commercial interaction across Maharashtra, announced the rally as a counter-response—framing it as a cultural assertion rather than intimidation.
Heightened Security
In anticipation of potential conflict, police presence has been significantly ramped up across Mira Bhayander, with Crime Branch units and Rapid Action Force teams on standby. As of Tuesday morning, the situation remains under control, though politically charged.
Observers note that with civic elections on the horizon, language politics and identity-based mobilisation are once again taking centre stage in Maharashtra’s political theatre.
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