‘Come to Bihar-UP, we will beat you up’, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey’s open challenge to Raj Thackeray

Nishikant Dubey, Raj Thackeray – File Photo

The BJP MP also said that he respects the Marathi language and the people of Maharashtra, who have contributed a lot to India’s independence. But the Thackeray brothers are trying to gain cheap popularity for the upcoming BMC elections.

BJP MP Nishikant Dubey has reacted sharply to Raj Thackeray’s statement of ‘Beat but don’t make a video’. Accusing Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray of doing ‘cheap politics’, he said, ‘You people live on our earnings. What industry do you have?’

Nishikant Dubey said to Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and Shiv Sena (Uddhav faction), ‘If you have the courage and you can beat up Hindi speakers, then go and beat up Urdu, Tamil and Telugu speakers too. If you consider yourself such a big ‘boss’, then come out of Maharashtra, come to Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, ‘we will beat you up’.

Thackeray brothers are trying to gain cheap popularity’
The BJP MP also said that he respects the Marathi language and the people of Maharashtra, who have contributed a lot to India’s independence. But the Thackeray brothers are trying to gain cheap popularity for the upcoming BMC elections.
Nishikant Dubey challenged, ‘If you have faith in your strength, then go in front of Mahim Dargah and beat up a Hindi or Urdu speaker.’

How did the language controversy start?
This controversy erupted in Maharashtra when the state government issued an order to make Hindi compulsory as the third language along with Marathi and English from class 1 to 5 under the National Education Policy 2020. Both Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray strongly opposed this decision of the government.

Raj Thackeray termed it an ‘attempt to impose Hindi’ and clearly said, ‘Marathi is the only agenda in Maharashtra.’ This protest was further intensified by his supporters taking to the streets. Uddhav Thackeray also called this policy against the linguistic identity of Maharashtra and demanded the government to withdraw it immediately. In view of the increasing public pressure and political storm, the state government finally had to withdraw this order.

Both the leaders called it their victory
This statement comes at a time when Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader Raj Thackeray seem to be united in their opposition to the Hindi language. In the name of Marathi identity, both the leaders organized a joint rally in Mumbai on 5 July 2025, which was celebrated as ‘Marathi Vijay Diwas’. The rally was initially against the Maharashtra government’s decision to make Hindi compulsory as a third language in schools. However, when the government later withdrew this policy, this protest was turned into a ‘victory celebration’. The Thackeray brothers called it a victory of Marathi pride and claimed that the unity of the people forced the government to bow down.