The Marathi versus non-Marathi issue has gained momentum in the state legislature in the wake of violence against a Marathi family in Kalyan. The Opposition demanded to know whether sons of the soil were safe in their own state, and what the government proposed to do with those who hired goons to beat the helpless family.

Making a statement on the issue, CM Devendra Fadnavis said Mumbai belonged to the Marathi people, and his government would not let anyone harm locals. The matter came up in the Upper House when Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anil Parab, his party colleague Sachin Ahir and NCP-SP’s Shashikant Shinde raised it aggressively. Fadnavis said the government had taken serious note of the matter and instructed that the prime accused’s employment with the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) be suspended.