A video circulating on social media has triggered widespread outrage after it claimed that workers of Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) slapped an employer during a heated argument involving his Marathi employee. The incident reportedly stems from a dispute over punctuality, which escalated into a language and regional identity confrontation.
Dispute over punctuality turns into alleged assault
According to the viral post, the employer had asked his female employee to report to work on time. The woman, said to be Marathi, allegedly refused and retorted that she would not work under the instructions of a “Bihari” employer.
The video shows two men in yellow T-shirts — identified by the user who posted the video as MNS workers — speaking to the employer. Another two individuals appear to be present inside the office during the discussion.
Viral video shows men slapping employer
After a brief exchange, the two men in yellow are suddenly seen slapping the employer multiple times. A woman, believed to be the employee involved in the dispute, then enters the scene appearing angry as the altercation intensifies. The other men in the room can be seen looming over the employer in what looks like an attempt to intimidate him further.
However, the authenticity of the video has not been independently verified, and it remains unclear what happened before or after the recorded portion.
Online reactions highlight frustration over language politics
The incident has generated strong reactions online, with many users criticising the alleged behaviour and questioning how such an assault could take place in Maharashtra.
“This is Marathi which never steps out of Maharashtra. These people just want to create differences. Because of them, the reputation of good Marathis gets tarnished,” one user commented, condemning the alleged violence.
Another said, “Companies can shift to Bihar, Bihari brothers have no problem with that. You can speak any language,” referring to the ongoing linguistic tensions in the video.
The debate also revived conversations around similar events in the past, with social media users sharing older incidents involving language disputes in public spaces and workplaces.
Past advisories and political reactions
MNS chief Raj Thackeray has previously cautioned his party workers regarding violent incidents related to Marathi language enforcement. In an earlier statement, he urged: “Next time, don’t make videos,” addressing previous episodes where party workers confronted people over language issues.
The latest viral footage has once again drawn attention to the challenges of maintaining social harmony in multi-lingual, cosmopolitan cities like Mumbai, where migrants from across India live and work.
Conclusion
While the video has sparked a heated online debate, key details — including the exact location, the sequence of events, and the identities of the individuals involved — remain unconfirmed. Authorities are yet to comment, and the video’s authenticity has not been independently verified. The incident underscores the need for restraint and responsible behaviour to prevent linguistic and regional differences from escalating into conflict.