MNS Workers Humiliate Influencer in Pune Over Reel Mocking Raj Thackeray
An influencer in Pune was humiliated by MNS workers over a reel mocking Raj Thackeray, forced to apologise on camera and perform sit-ups with slippers on his head.
A social media influencer in Maharashtra was publicly humiliated by workers of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) over a reel that allegedly mocked the party's chief, Raj Thackeray.
Mahesh Mote was apprehended by MNS workers and made to prostrate before a photograph of Raj Thackeray. According to accounts of the incident, black ink was smeared on his face, he was forced to perform sit-ups with slippers placed on his head, and he was then made to record an apology video.
In the video, released by the MNS leaders, Mote is seen in tears, apologising for the reel. With folded hands, he offered an unconditional apology to Raj Thackeray and to MNS workers, pleading that he not be harassed further.
"I inadvertently said something wrong about Raj Saheb, and I also mistakenly spoke inappropriately about Shubham Dada and other MNS office-bearers. Today, I deeply regret my mistake. Because of this reel, I have found myself in this predicament. I sincerely apologise to the MNS party and to all of you," Mote said in the video, his face showing fear as tears rolled down.
Shubham Jagdale, the MNS sub-divisional president for the Hadapsar Assembly constituency, alleged that the influencer had used extremely abusive language about Raj Thackeray in a video posted about 15 days earlier.
Mote had reportedly been in Kerala for the last 15 to 20 days. As soon as MNS workers learned of his return to Pune and his presence in the Katraj area, they reached the spot, apprehended him at a park in Katraj and brought him to the MNS public relations office.
Detailing the incident, Jagdale said that at the office, Mote was served "Mahaprasad" - a euphemism for the party's signature style of rough justice.
Jagdale later bragged about the incident, calling it "MNS style" and stating that anyone who insults Raj Thackeray would meet the same fate.
"We brought him to our office and made him lie down before a portrait of the respected Raj Saheb Thackeray and demanded an apology. In true MNS style, we gave him a fitting reply in our own language - something you might even call 'Mahaprasad'. I believe that if anyone makes such remarks against Raj Saheb Thackeray, MNS will respond in exactly this manner," the MNS leader stated.