Investor Sushil Kedia issued a public apology on Saturday after his Worli office was vandalized, allegedly by supporters of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). The incident followed a controversial post by Kedia on X (formerly Twitter), in which he openly challenged MNS chief Raj Thackeray and declared he would not learn Marathi, despite living in Mumbai for three decades.
Kedia’s now-deleted post read: “I don’t know Marathi properly even after living for 30 years in Mumbai & with your gross misconduct I have made it a resolve that until such people as you are allowed to pretend to be taking care of Marathi Manus I take pratigya I won’t learn Marathi. Kya karna hai bol?” This statement sparked outrage among certain groups, leading to unidentified individuals reportedly throwing stones at his office while chanting slogans in support of Raj Thackeray and the Marathi language.
In his apology, Kedia admitted his mistake, stating, “I realised I must take back my over-reactions and withdraw… I accept my mistake and request apology.” He clarified that his earlier tweet was made under duress and stress, and alleged that it was being manipulated to escalate the controversy. Kedia also approached Mumbai Police, claiming he had received threats following his remarks.
Kedia expressed hope for a more peaceful environment where Marathi could be embraced respectfully, emphasizing that his reaction was prompted by violence against non-Marathi speakers. The incident comes amid rising tensions over the Marathi versus non-Marathi debate in Maharashtra. Just a day earlier, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had warned against “hooliganism in the name of language,” referencing another incident in Bhayander where a stall owner was allegedly assaulted for not speaking Marathi.
The episode highlights ongoing sensitivities around language and identity in Maharashtra, with calls for both respect and restraint from all sides.
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)