Marathis and Gujaratis clash over ‘non-veg food’ at a Mumbai housing society

MNS workers joined the protest for allegedly insulting the Marathi-speaking neighbours for eating non-veg food.

A clash occurred between Gujarati-speaking and Marathi-speaking neighbours of a Mumbai housing society over ‘non-vegetarian food.’ The clash led to the involvement of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) workers, who protested for allegedly insulting the Marathi-speaking neighbours of the society for eating non-vegetarian food.

Clash between Marathis and Gujaratis in a Mumbai apartment over non-veg food.

MNS workers had to protest for allegedly insulting the Marathi-speaking neighbours of a housing society in Mumbai for eating non-veg food. Later, Ashish Shelar, Maharashtra minister, said that such incidents of “disrespect” on the basis of language were unacceptable. A video of the MNS workers issuing a warning to Gujarati residents of the society, accusing them of ill-treating four Marathi-speaking families, is being widely shared on the internet.

Warning by MNS workers to Gujarati residents.

A video of the MNS workers issuing a warning to Gujarati residents of the society had local MNS leader Raj Parte saying that the Marathi-speaking families were called “dirty” for their choice of food. He can be heard in the video saying, “Anybody can live in Mumbai and work here, but we will not tolerate such things….how can others dictate what they should eat.”

A building resident was seen countering him, stating that there weren’t restrictions about food. As the argument escalated, a few residents alerted Ghatkopar Police, who intervened and sorted the issue, as per a report by news agency PTI, citing an eyewitness. The witness said that the police asked the residents not to ill-treat their Marathi-speaking neighbours and warned of legal action otherwise.