Marathi vs Hindi Tension Escalates in Maharashtra: Teachers Protest for Salary, MNS Hits Streets Over Language Row

The long-standing Marathi vs Hindi debate in Maharashtra has reignited, triggering simultaneous protests on two major fronts — one involving underpaid Marathi school teachers, and the other led by Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) over language dominance.

Teachers' Anguish Over Delayed Salaries

Hundreds of Marathi-medium school teachers gathered at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan, demanding timely and increased salaries. Many of them broke down in tears as they alleged that they haven’t seen a raise in years and their current wages arrive late.

“We are being pushed to starvation,” said one protester. “If the government doesn’t act, we may not survive much longer.”

Simultaneously: MNS Protest Over Language Issue Turns Tense

While teachers voiced their economic despair, MNS workers gathered in large numbers at Mira-Bhayander in protest over the ongoing language row. The protest was reportedly triggered by an incident where a shopkeeper was allegedly assaulted by MNS supporters for refusing to speak Marathi. This incident sparked outrage among local traders, prompting a counter-protest, which MNS challenged by organizing its own march.

The situation escalated as MNS clashed with police over the protest route, leading to the detention of several party workers. MNS claimed the administration attempted to stifle their movement by diverting the rally route away from Mira Road, where the original controversy occurred.

Minister Joins MNS Protest

Maharashtra Minister Pratap Baburao Sarnaik made an appearance at the MNS protest site, backing the party’s stand on language and indicating broader political support for the cause.

Police Justify Detentions

Police Commissioner Madhukar Pandey stated, “We allowed the rally but asked for a route change due to intelligence inputs and High Court guidelines. When the MNS refused to comply, we had to detain a few people to maintain order.”

Language Politics Heats Up Again

This protest follows a recent uproar over a government directive to make Hindi the third language in primary schools — a decision that sparked widespread backlash and was soon rolled back. The retreat was hailed as a “victory” by both Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray, who shared the stage for the first time in 20 years at a joint rally.

With emotional appeals from unpaid teachers and political heat from language activists, Maharashtra finds itself in a tense linguistic and socio-political standoff. As the Marathi-Hindi debate grows louder, it remains to be seen whether the state government can strike a balance between cultural pride and constitutional plurality.