The video shows several members of the Raj Thackeray-led party surrounding the shopkeeper on Sunday night.
On the very day the Maharashtra government withdrew its orders on the implementation of the three-language policy in the state, which the opposition has termed an attempt at "Hindi imposition", a shopkeeper was assaulted by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) workers in Thane for asking them why speaking in Marathi should be compulsory.
A video, which has gone viral, shows several members of the Raj Thackeray-led party surrounding the shopkeeper on Sunday night. While one argues with the shopkeeper, another warns him that he would be thrashed.
"You asked me why you should speak in Marathi. What does that mean? When you had trouble, you had come to the MNS office," a member tells the shopkeeper, who replies that he had no idea when speaking in the language became compulsory.
Another man, throwing in some curse words, warns the shopkeeper that he would not be allowed to do business in the area. When the shopkeeper says they would need to teach him Marathi, one of the men says, "Yeah, say that then. What do you mean why should you learn Marathi? This is Maharashtra. Which language is spoken in Maharashtra?"
When the shopkeeper replies and says "all languages", one of the men slaps him and another joins in, slapping him twice in quick succession. Even as the shopkeeper tries to explain, the man slaps him at least four more times - including once with the back of his hand.
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