Maharashtra Marathi Language controversy: Sushil Kedia, a prominent figure in India’s financial sector, has found himself at the centre of a political and linguistic controversy in Maharashtra following a provocative social media post aimed at Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray. Kedia, who is the founder and CEO of Kedianomics, a SEBI-registered investment advisory and trading firm, drew sharp backlash after expressing frustration over hostility towards non-Marathi speakers.
The controversy erupted when Kedia took to X (formerly Twitter) to voice his anger over recent reports of violence targeting individuals for not speaking Marathi. In a direct challenge to Thackeray’s party, he posted: “I don’t know Marathi properly even after living for 30 years in Mumbai… I take pratigya, I won’t learn Marathi. Kya karna hai bol?”
Do note @RajThackeray I dont know Marathi properly even after living for 30 years in Mumbai & with your gross misconduct I ahve made it a resolve that until such people as you are allowed to pretend to be taking care of Marathi Manus I take pratigya I wont learn Marathi. Kya…
— Sushil Kedia (@sushilkedia) July 3, 2025
Kedia issues public apology after MNS workers attack office
The reaction was swift and intense. On Saturday morning, five MNS supporters stormed Kedia’s office in Worli, hurling coconuts and chanting slogans in support of Marathi pride and Raj Thackeray. Videos of the incident showed staff members scrambling to shut the office, prompting police intervention. The attackers were later detained by Mumbai Police, and an investigation is ongoing.
Amid growing tensions, Kedia released a public apology through a video statement. He admitted the post had been written “under emotional duress” and said he regretted his choice of words. “I overreacted under pressure from recent incidents involving violence against non-Marathi speakers,” he said, clarifying that his difficulty with Marathi was not due to unwillingness but a lack of fluency despite living in Mumbai for three decades. “We may never reach the fluency of native speakers,” he added.
Kedia also extended an olive branch, stating his appreciation for Raj Thackeray’s leadership on issues such as Hindutva, nationalism, and the Hanuman Chalisa campaign. He called for calm and urged people not to weaponise his earlier remarks.
All about Sushil Kedia
Sushil Kedia is a veteran investor and market analyst with more than 25 years of experience across domestic and global markets. He has held senior roles at hedge funds, investment banks, and proprietary trading desks, and is regularly featured on business news platforms for his insights on Indian equities.
His specialisations include technical and quantitative analysis. According to public disclosures, Kedia holds equity positions in over 45 companies, with an estimated portfolio value exceeding Rs 3,100 crore. On LinkedIn, he describes himself as someone with a professional network “where anyone who matters in Indian equities is no more than two phone calls away.”
Maharashtra’s language debate
The incident has taken place against the backdrop of an intensifying language debate in Maharashtra. The state government’s April and June 2025 resolutions mandating Hindi as a compulsory third language from Classes 1 to 5 in Marathi and English medium schools sparked protests. Teachers, political groups, and civil society organisations accused the government of attempting to impose Hindi at the cost of Marathi and regional linguistic identity.