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Raj Thackeray's gag order to MNS workers amid Marathi row: 'Don't speak to media'
He further said that the designated spokespersons of the MNS should also not hold any interactions with the media without his permission.
Amid the ongoing Hindi vs Marathi row in the state, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray has issued a gag order to his party workers, asking them not to interact with any news outlets and to refrain from posting any reaction videos on social media.
In a post on X on Tuesday night, Thackeray said, "A clear directive... No one from the party should interact with newspapers, news channels, or any digital media. Likewise, absolutely do not post videos of your reactions on social media."
He further said that the designated spokespersons of the MNS should also not hold any interactions with the media without his permission.
"And those spokespersons officially assigned the responsibility of interacting with the media should also not engage with any form of media without consulting me or obtaining my permission, nor should they express themselves on social media," he added.
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Thackeray's directives come as the language row in Maharashtra continued to escalate, with several members of the MNS being detained during a protest march they took out in Thane.
According to the state government, Raj Thackeray's party had earlier been granted permission for the protest. However, it was later denied as the party was adamant on a specific route for the march.
After prohibitory orders were issued regarding the gathering of people, MNS members alleged that the state's Mahayuti government was not allowing the "Marathi people's march".
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Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis had also affirmed that no one was denied permission for a march, "but the marchers were insistent on a particular route".
He said that permission could not have been granted for that route as it would have resulted in "law and order issues".
The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena wished to hold a counter-protest in opposition to the march held by traders over MNS men thrashing a shop owner for refusing to speak Marathi last week.
The threats of 'speak Marathi or else' have increased over the recent weeks as MNS claims that the BJP government wants to impose Hindi in the state.
