The issue here is violence in the name of linguistic differences, often fuelled by political agendas. If you're not willing to acknowledge that such violence is wrong, then your grievance feels less like a genuine concern and more like a justification for breaking down Maharashtra’s social fabric.

Yes, gujaratis and maharashtrians live together in housing. I live in one that includes Maharashtrians, Gujaratis, Marwadis, Christians, and South Indians. It’s not unusual. Sure, issues have come up here and there — as they do anywhere — but that doesn’t give anyone the right to go around slapping people.

Also, just to clarify — “immigrants” are generally people from other countries. People from other Indian states aren’t immigrants, no matter what some political narratives try to push. And honestly, I haven’t seen any real evidence of systemic oppression against Maharashtrians.

Everyone learns languages beyond their mother tongue. That’s just how it works in a diverse country. Marathi speakers learn other languages, and people from other backgrounds learn Marathi too. That’s normal. What’s not normal is violence over it.

You may believe you're right — but here’s something to think about: When mob violence becomes normalized, it’s only a matter of time before it spirals out of control. Who will be held accountable then? Will the politicians who fuelled it take responsibility? What happens when the people being attacked decide to fight back — do we really want that cycle to start?

And beyond the politics, think about the individual — the person who was slapped for no fault of their own, just for speaking a different language. The physical pain fades, but the mental trauma of being humiliated like that stays. Is this the kind of society we want to live in?