Mumbai: Gujarati-Marathi residents clash over non-veg food; neighbour dials MNS
This row was triggered by a Gujarati man who allegedly dubbed his Marathi neighbour “dirty” for consuming fish and meat; MNS workers intervened to warn Gujaratis
A blistering row erupted in Mumbai’s Ghatkopar between Marathi and Gujarati residents of an apartment complex over the consumption of non-vegetarian food.
This row was triggered by a remark made by a Gujarati man who allegedly dubbed his Marathi neighbour “dirty” for consuming fish and meat.
A video of the confrontation between the Gujarati and Marathi residents quickly spread across social media platforms and revived the issue over clashes between vegetarians and non-vegetarians in housing complex spaces.
MNS intervenes
Trouble began in Ghatkopar's Sambhav Darshan Co-operative Housing Society where Ringe claimed that his Gujarati neighbour reportedly told him: "You Marathi people are dirty, you eat fish and meat." A rattled Ringe immediately contacted the Maharashtra Navnirman Samiti (MNS) led by Raj Thackeray.
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As expected, MNS workers sided with the Marathi resident, Ram Ringe, and warned the Gujarati residents to behave or face the consequences.
Local MNS leader Raj Parte was heard saying in a video that the Marathi-speaking families were called “dirty” for their choice of food.
“Anybody can live in Mumbai and work here but we will not tolerate such things...How can others dictate what they should eat?” Parte asked.
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MNS leaders made a second visit to the society after certain residents demanded on their WhatsApp group that Ringe needed to be boycotted for making the complaint.
Police bring calm
The MNS leaders confronted the society's chairman and warned that the party would "respond in its own style" if they continued harassing Ringe.
The police then intervened and calmed the situation. They said no complaint had been registered by anyone but a police official told the society’s Gujarati residents not to harass their Marathi neighbours.
The Gujarati residents reportedly declined to speak to the media.
Historically, both the Raj Thackeray-led MNS and the undivided Shiv Sena have always raised the issue of Marathi-speakers finding it difficult to buy or rent flats in certain areas due to their non-vegetarian food habits.
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Marathi culture
Later, Maharashtra minister and Mumbai BJP president Ashish Shelar said such incidents of "disrespect" on the basis of language were unacceptable.
"No one should commit the sin of looking down upon Marathi-speaking people, their language and their culture," he said.
Meanwhile, Congress legislator Vijay Wadettiwar hit out at the Devendra Fadnavis-led state government.
"Now, Marathi people should question the government: is Maharashtra being ruled by Marathis or not?" he asked.