Auto-rickshaw driver thrashed by Sena (UBT) workers over 'anti-Marathi' remarks; video goes viral

Palghar: In yet another incident against migrant workers, an autorickshaw driver was roughed up by workers of Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) for making anti-Marathi remarks in Virar.

A video of the incident has gone viral on social media platforms.

However, so far, no complaints have been registered. The incident comes around a fortnight after the incident of Mira Road in Thane district, where a sweet and snacks shop owner was roughed up by workers of Raj Thackeray-led MNS.

The Virar incident took place on Saturday, however, no complaint has been registered so far.

“If anyone dares to insult the Marathi language, Maharashtra, or Marathi people, they will get a reply in the true Shiv Sena style. We will not sit silent," Shiv Sena (UBT) Virar unit President Uday Jadhav said on Sunday.

The video that went viral shows that the auto-rickshaw driver is seen being slapped by a group of men and women, on a busy road near Virar railway station, nearly 60 kms away from downtown Mumbai. He is then made to publicly apologise to a man and his sister, with whom he allegedly misbehaved earlier, as well as to the state for "insulting" it and its linguistic and cultural heritage.

In another video shot last week, the driver was heard saying: “Hindi bolunga, Bhojpuri bounga…Marathi nahi bolunga" and using some insulting words.