‘It's Ok If Marathi Dies But…’: Shinde Sena MLA’s Remarks Spark Row Amid Language Debate

Last Updated:November 03, 2025, 22:11 IST

The comments, which Prakash Surve described as a way of expressing affection towards North Indian voters, have sparked a political backlash.

Shiv Sena MLA Prakash Surve. (X)

Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) MLA Prakash Surve has stirred a row with his remarks on the Hindi-Marathi language debate, saying that Marathi is his mother, while Hindi is his aunt. He said that it is okay if the mother dies, but the aunt should not die.

While speaking at an event organised by members of the North Indian community, Surve attempted to praise non-Marathi voters by translating a Marathi proverb, but ended up triggering outrage with his choice of words.

While addressing the gathering, the Magathane MLA said, “Marathi is my mother, and North India is my maternal aunt (mausi). Even if the mother dies, it is fine, but the aunt should never die, because she loves you more than your mother. You (North Indians) have given me immense love — please extend the same to my colleagues as well."

The comments, which Surve described as a way of expressing affection towards North Indian voters, have sparked a political backlash.

MNS leader Nayan Kadam condemned the remarks and said, “Has the Marathi person from Magathan chosen this MLA? “Even if Marathi [culture] dies, it’s fine" — this guy kills his own mother to save his aunt from UP; we publicly condemn this," he said in a post on X while sharing the video.

Language Row In Maharashtra 

The Hindi-Marathi row was ignited in the state, especially in the Mumbai metropolitan region, after opposition parties like the Shiv Sena (UBT) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena took on the government over two GRs on the three-language policy in schools and teaching of Hindi from Class I.

Following opposition, including from Raj and Uddhav Thackeray, the Maharashtra government withdrew the resolutions.

It escalated after incidents involving verbal and physical assaults, vandalism, and public intimidation by the MNS workers were reported from various parts of the state, drawing widespread criticism and legal scrutiny.

In multiple videos that have gone viral on social media, MNS workers were seen confronting shopkeepers, auto drivers, and even bank employees for not speaking Marathi. In one incident in Mumbai, a medical shop employee was beaten and forced to apologise publicly for allegedly posting a WhatsApp status deemed disrespectful to the Marathi language. In another case from Pune, a bank manager was slapped during work hours for addressing customers in Hindi.

Shobhit Gupta

Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben...Read More

Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben...

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News politics ‘It's Ok If Marathi Dies But…’: Shinde Sena MLA’s Remarks Spark Row Amid Language Debate

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