BJP MP Dubey Dares Raj Thackeray: 'Will Beat You Repeatedly'

BJP MP Nishikant Dubey on Monday courted a new political controversy by strongly reacting to MNS leader Raj Thackeray's inflammatory remark asking party workers to "strike below the eardrum" of those who don't speak Marathi.

Referring to Thackeray indirectly, Dubey asked the MNS leader to venture outside Maharashtra and threatened, "Tumko patak patak ke maarenge" (You will be thrashed repeatedly).

Dubey Targets Raj and Uddhav on Politics of Language

Dubey's statements followed Raj Thackeray, in a recent rally, directing his party cadres to make non-Marathi speakers learn Marathi, but not to record videos when they take action against them.

Gujarati or whoever it is here, should learn Marathi, but you don't need to beat them for that if they don't speak Marathi. But if someone displays useless drama, you have to hit below the eardrums," Thackeray said, while also cautioning his supporters against shooting such incidents.

In a scathing counterattack, Dubey targeted both Raj and Uddhav Thackeray, calling them "cheap politicians" before the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls.

You are saying that people will have to speak Marathi. Whose roti (bread) you are eating? There are Tata, Birla and Reliance, they are not unique to Maharashtra. Tata established its first factory here (in Bihar). You people are surviving on our money," Dubey lashed out.