Traders protest MNS slap politics in Mira Rd

Hundreds of shopkeepers and traders in Mira Road took to the streets on Thursday to protest an assault by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) workers on the owner of a sweet mart, for not speaking in Marathi. Shops in large parts of Mira Road were also shut as part of the protest.

- Megha Sood, Linah Baliga and Yogesh Naik

The assault on Babulal Khimaji Chaudhary, 48, owner of Jodhpur Sweet Mart, took place on June 29. Protesting traders on Thursday assembled in the Shanti Park area, fearing they would be targeted next as many of them are Gujaratis and Marwadis, and are not conversant in Marathi.

The traders said that even though their home state was not Maharashtra, they had been living in Mira-Bhayander for decades. “It is not that we do not respect Maharashtra and Marathi,” said Karan Rajput, member of the local shopkeepers’ association.

“We want justice for the victim and an assurance that we will be able to stay and continue our business without fear,” said Rajput.

The protest, which lasted two hours, ended when Prakash Gaikwad, deputy commissioner of police, assured the shop owners that action would be taken against the accused in the assault.

The incident