'Patak patak ke marenge': BJP MP Dubey targets Thackerays amid language; draws Aaditya's ire

NEW DELHI: BJP MP Nishikant Dubey on Monday triggered a fierce political row in Maharashtra after warning opponents that “tumko patak patak ke marenge” (we’ll thrash you thoroughly) while responding to MNS chief Raj Thackeray ’s call to target Hindi speakers.

Speaking in Guwahati, Dubey told ANI, “You people are surviving on our money. What kind of industries do you have? If you are courageous enough and beat those who speak Hindi, then you should beat all those who speak Urdu, Tamil, and Telugu… Come out of Maharashtra, come to Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu — tumko patak patak ke marenge.”

#WATCH | Guwahati, Assam | On Raj Thackeray's remark 'beat but don't make a video', BJP MP Nishikant Dubey says, "...You people are surviving on our money. What kind of industries do you have?... If you are courageous enough and beat those who speak Hindi, then you should beat… pic.twitter.com/gRvAjtD0iW

— ANI (@ANI) July 7, 2025

Leading the response was Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray, who accused the BJP of attempting to fracture Maharashtra through divisive rhetoric. “This is exactly the BJP’s mentality, which is anti-Maharashtra,” he told reporters.

“We have asked everyone not to react to such crazy and dirty minds because they want to create fear and instability in Maharashtra… This mentality of the BJP’s MP represents the entire BJP; this does not represent North India.”

#WATCH | Mumbai, Maharashtra: On BJP MP Nishikant Dubey's statement on Marathi langugae row, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray says, "... This is exactly the BJP's mentality, which is anti-Maharashtra. We have asked everyone not to react to such crazy and dirty minds… pic.twitter.com/X0KBCW6C5f

— ANI (@ANI) July 7, 2025

Thackeray stressed that the issue was not between languages but an orchestrated effort by the BJP to inflame tensions for electoral benefit. “People from all over the country come to Maharashtra with dreams and hopes… Our fight is against the government, not against any language,” he said.

Criticising Dubey’s remarks as “shameless,” Aaditya added: “Dubey is not the face of North Indians. He represents the BJP… These remarks were made with a political intent to divide Marathi and Hindi-speaking people.”

Congress spokesperson Atul Londhe Patil dismissed Dubey’s intervention as ignorant. “He is foolish. This controversy is not about language,” Patil said. “It is about whether two other languages, besides their mother tongue, should be taught to students of Std 1 to 4. The child can get confused… Congress respects all languages but is against diverting from ‘Balmanasshastra’ and confusing children.”

NCP-SCP MLA Rohit Pawar accused Dubey of importing poll strategies from Bihar to stir unrest in Maharashtra. “I request Nishikant Dubey ji not to try and implement election strategies specific to Bihar in Maharashtra. While he is thinking of the West Bengal and Bihar elections, he is disturbing the sense of equality in Maharashtra,” he said.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi also demanded accountability from the state leadership. “Earlier, BJP MLA Ashish Shelar compared Marathi Hindus with Pahalgam terrorists, and now Nishikant Dubey has made a statement. I want to ask the CM, why does he go quiet when it comes to standing for the state?”

#WATCH Mumbai, Maharashtra: On BJP MP Nishikant Dubey's statement, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi says, "Earlier, BJP MLA Ashish Shelar compared Marathi Hindus with Pahalgam terrorists, and now Nishikant Dubey has made a statement. I want to ask the CM, why does he go… pic.twitter.com/wowQMJdpHf

— ANI (@ANI) July 7, 2025

The row comes amid a larger political campaign by MNS and Shiv Sena factions, who have joined forces to oppose what they call the imposition of Hindi in Maharashtra’s schools. The state government recently reversed its earlier decision to introduce Hindi as a third language in primary schools, but the controversy has continued to escalate.