Mumbai: MNS workers had a heated argument with members of a housing society in suburban Ghatkopar for allegedly insulting their Marathi-speaking neighbours for eating non-vegetarian food, prompting police to intervene.
A video showing Maharashtra Navnirman Sena workers warning Gujarati residents of a housing society on Wednesday has gone viral on social media. The workers accused them of mistreating four Marathi-speaking families living there. In the video, local MNS leader Raj Parte alleged that the families were labelled "dirty" due to their food choices.
"Anybody can live in Mumbai and work here, but we will not tolerate such things... How can others dictate what they should eat?" Parte is heard saying.
A resident of the building countered the claims, asserting that there were no food restrictions in the society.
As the argument intensified, some residents contacted Ghatkopar Police, who intervened and resolved the matter, according to an eyewitness. The police advised the society's residents against mistreating their Marathi-speaking neighbours and issued a warning of legal action if such behaviour continued.
A police official confirmed that no formal complaint has been filed regarding the incident.
Additionally, there has been no response from the Gujarati resident accused of insulting the Marathi-speaking families.
In the video, Parte is also heard alleging that a housing society in a nearby locality prohibited Marathi-speaking families from cooking non-vegetarian food at home, and they were forced to order food from outside.
Both the Raj Thackeray-led MNS and the undivided Shiv Sena have alleged in the past that Marathi speakers were not allowed to buy or rent a flat in some areas as they eat non-vegetarian food.
As elections to the Mumbai civic body are expected to be held this year, the MNS of late has been raising the demand of mandatory use of Marathi in public places, including government offices and banks.
(inputs from PTI)