Political Storm Erupts Over Student's Tragic Death
In a dramatic escalation of political tensions in Maharashtra, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray has launched a scathing attack against the Bharatiya Janata Party and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, accusing them of spreading linguistic poison that led to the tragic death of a 19-year-old student. The controversy erupted following the suicide of Arnav Khaire, a college student who was allegedly assaulted for not speaking Marathi in a local train.
Thackeray's Strong Condemnation
Speaking to party workers at his residence Matoshri on Saturday, Uddhav Thackeray delivered a powerful statement blaming the political rivals for the deteriorating social harmony. "Now they (BJP) are trying to flare linguistic regionalism by using the unfortunate incident. We have never asked for violence or murder in the name of language," Thackeray asserted during his address.
The former Maharashtra Chief Minister recalled how RSS heavyweight Bhaiyyaji Joshi had previously stated that Gujarati is the mother tongue of Ghatkopar, a suburban area in Mumbai. He also pointed fingers at Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena MLA Prakash Surve for making derogatory remarks about Marathi. "It is the BJP and the RSS which is spreading this poison and putting the blame on us," Thackeray emphasized, warning people to be aware of such divide and rule tactics.
Background of the Tragedy
The political firestorm stems from the heartbreaking incident on November 18, 2025, when Arnav Khaire, a first-year BSc student at a prominent college in Mulund, was traveling to college in a local train. According to police reports, the 19-year-old was allegedly beaten up by a group of four to five people specifically for not speaking Marathi.
The Mumbai Police have registered a case based on the statement of Khaire's father, who revealed that his son was under severe mental stress following the traumatic incident. The young student's subsequent suicide has sparked widespread outrage and brought the issue of linguistic regionalism to the forefront of Maharashtra's political discourse.
BJP's Response and Congress Reaction
The BJP had earlier staged an agitation in front of the memorial of Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray at Shivaji Park, where the party blamed certain political figures and parties for spreading enmity over language. Mumbai BJP President Amit Satam expressed sorrow over Khaire's demise while condemning attempts to create social divisions.
Meanwhile, the Opposition Congress joined the criticism against the BJP. Mumbai Congress's chief spokesperson Sachin Sawant termed the BJP's agitation as tamasha (drama), stating that "It is the same BJP which has spread poison in the country in the name of religion and caste." Sawant accused the BJP of playing a cruel joke on Maharashtra's people and demanded that the party should feel ashamed for politicizing the young boy's death.
The incident has reignited the sensitive debate around linguistic identity in Mumbai, a city that has historically embraced multiple languages and cultures. As political parties trade accusations, the tragic death of Arnav Khaire continues to highlight the urgent need for maintaining social harmony and preventing such incidents in the future.
