BJP MP Nishikant Dubey on Monday courted a new political controversy by strongly reacting to MNS leader Raj Thackeray’s inflammatory remark asking party workers to “strike below the eardrum” of those who don’t speak Marathi. Referring to Thackeray indirectly, Dubey asked the MNS leader to venture outside Maharashtra and threatened, “Tumko patak patak ke maarenge” (You will be thrashed repeatedly).
Dubey Targets Raj and Uddhav on Politics of Language
Dubey’s statements followed Raj Thackeray, in a recent rally, directing his party cadres to make non-Marathi speakers learn Marathi, but not to record videos when they take action against them.
“Gujarati or whoever it is here, should learn Marathi, but you don’t need to beat them for that if they don’t speak Marathi. But if someone displays useless drama, you have to hit below the eardrums,” Thackeray said, while also cautioning his supporters against shooting such incidents.
In a scathing counterattack, Dubey targeted both Raj and Uddhav Thackeray, calling them “cheap politicians” before the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls.
“You are saying that people will have to speak Marathi. Whose roti (bread) you are eating? There are Tata, Birla and Reliance, they are not unique to Maharashtra. Tata established its first factory here (in Bihar). You people are surviving on our money,” Dubey lashed out.
Dubey Challenges Thackerays to Act Beyond Maharashtra
Challenging Raj Thackeray to attack speakers of other languages too, Nishikant Dubey said, “If you are courageous enough and beat those who speak Hindi, then you should beat all those who speak Urdu, Tamil, and Telugu. If you are such a big ‘boss’, come out of Maharashtra, come to Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu – ‘tumko patak patak ke maarenge’ (You will be thrashed). This anarchy won’t work,” the BJP leader asserted.
#WATCH | Guwahati, Assam | On Raj Thackeray’s remark ‘beat but don’t make a video’, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey says, “…You people are surviving on our money. What kind of industries do you have?… If you are courageous enough and beat those who speak Hindi, then you should beat… pic.twitter.com/gRvAjtD0iW
— ANI (@ANI) July 7, 2025
He also dared the Thackeray cousins to go to Mahim and face non-Marathi speakers openly. “If they have courage, they should go to Mahim and beat any Hindi or Urdu speaking people in front of Mahim dargah, then I will consider them true ancestors of Balasaheb Thackeray,” he further added.
Shiv Sena and Opposition Backlash
Dubey’s statement attracted severe criticism from Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi, who challenged the BJP MP’s jurisdiction. “Who made him the gatekeeper of Hindi? Who made him the tax collector of India? Who made him the spokesperson of industrialists?” she questioned.
She also aimed at Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, questioning whether he supports the MP’s offensive language. “Does @Dev_Fadnavis ji approve of their party MP’s language towards people of Maharashtra and his derogatory remarks about hardworking people of the state?” she posted on X.
Who made him the gatekeeper of Hindi?
Who made him the tax keeper of India?
Who made him the spokesperson of industrialists?
Who made him the decision maker of what other party leaders should be doing?Does @Dev_Fadnavis ji agree with their party MP’s language with regards to… https://t.co/CWubjlO174
— Priyanka Chaturvedi🇮🇳 (@priyankac19) July 7, 2025
The incendiary exchange is against the backdrop of increasing political heat in Maharashtra on the Marathi language matter, with the Thackeray cousins coming together again to marshal regional support before key civic elections.
