Captured on Cam: MNS Workers Assault Coaching Centre Head in Kalyan; Video Sparks Outrage

Captured on Cam: MNS Workers Assault Coaching Centre Head in Kalyan; Video Sparks Outrage

Captured on Cam: MNS Workers Assault Coaching Centre Head in Kalyan; Video Sparks Outrage

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Party members confront Siddharth Singh Chandel over alleged fee complaints; incident linked to rising political tensions over Hindi language policy

Another shocking instance of political violence has surfaced in Kalyan, near Mumbai, where workers from Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) allegedly assaulted Siddharth Singh Chandel, head of the Siddhartha Logic coaching centre. The centre trains students for competitive exams, including the Indian Administrative Service.

The incident was captured in a 2.5-minute video that has since gone viral. In the footage, three MNS members are seen confronting Chandel in his office. They reportedly accused him of charging exorbitant fees without holding classes. Despite Chandel’s attempts to defuse the situation during a phone call, the argument quickly escalated.

The video shows one man slapping Chandel, another throwing a stainless-steel bottle, and a third hurling a wooden plaque at him. Visibly distressed students, primarily young girls, were present during the assault—one of whom recorded the confrontation on her phone. The video ends with one of the attackers issuing a threat.

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Neither Raj Thackeray nor the MNS has issued an apology or expressed remorse. Instead, the party has justified the actions of its workers. Raj Thackeray has reportedly encouraged such acts of intimidation, advising members only to avoid filming future incidents. The party has even warned of continued violence in the face of criticism directed at its leadership.

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This assault comes amid growing political tensions over the Maharashtra government’s decision to introduce Hindi as a mandatory subject from Classes I to V. The directive, issued through orders in April and June, has drawn fierce opposition from MNS and the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT). Both factions, led by cousins descended from Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray, have condemned what they term the “imposition” of Hindi in the state.

The incident in Kalyan adds to the growing list of politically charged confrontations in Maharashtra, raising concerns over the normalization of violence in public and educational spaces.

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