BJP MP Nishikant Dubey on Monday launched a sharp attack on Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray and Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray over recent incidents in Maharashtra where individuals from Hindi-speaking regions were reportedly assaulted for not conversing in Marathi.

Speaking to news agency ANI, Dubey strongly condemned the alleged violence and challenged the Thackeray cousins to step outside Maharashtra and attempt similar actions in other parts of the country.

“Come to UP, Bihar or Tamil Nadu. Tumhe patak-patak ke maarenge (people will thrash you black and blue),” Dubey said, referring to the Thackerays’ remarks targeting individuals from Hindi-speaking backgrounds working in Maharashtra.

Dubey further dared them to “go to Mahim dargah and try and assault any Urdu or Urdu-speaking person,” ANI reported.

Addressing Raj Thackeray’s controversial instruction to his party workers, "beat but don’t make a video." Dubey said, “You people are surviving on our money. What kind of industries do you have? If you have the courage to beat Hindi-speaking people, then you should also beat those who speak Urdu, Tamil, and Telugu. If you are such a big ‘boss’, step out of Maharashtra and come to Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, or Tamil Nadu tumko patak patak ke maarenge.”

He further said, “We all respect Marathi and the people of Maharashtra, who fought for India's independence. The BMC election is coming, and that’s why Raj and Uddhav are doing cheap politics. If they have courage, they should go to Mahim and beat any Hindi or Urdu-speaking people in front of Mahim dargah.”

In recent weeks, several videos have emerged showing MNS workers allegedly assaulting individuals when they expressed an inability to speak Marathi, Maharashtra’s official language.

One such incident that went viral involved the assault of a shopkeeper in Mumbai’s Mira Road area. In the video, MNS workers were seen slapping the shopkeeper after he allegedly said he could not converse in Marathi. Another man was heard warning him against continuing business in the area.

The incident sparked a political uproar, with several leaders condemning the assault and demanding strict action. The MNS defended its position, saying, “If anyone insults the Marathi language, MNS will respond in this manner.”

The tensions come after the Maharashtra government led by Devendra Fadnavis rolled back the proposed three-language policy, which had mandated the teaching of Hindi, English, and Marathi in schools. Raj and Uddhav Thackeray had opposed the policy, calling it "Hindi imposition."

Raj Thackeray reportedly had told his supporters, “If you beat someone, don’t make a video of the incident. Let the person beaten tell that he has been beaten up; you don’t need to tell everyone.”

The comment drew widespread criticism, including from the BJP and other political parties.

On Saturday, Uddhav and Raj Thackeray appeared together for the first time in two decades during a “victory rally” celebrating the rollback of the three-language policy. Uddhav Sena later clarified that they are not against Hindi but opposes the imposition of any language.

(With inputs from ANI)