Investor Sushil Kedia Retracts Marathi Remark After Backlash and Office Attack in Mumbai

Investor and market strategist Sushil Kedia found himself at the center of a controversy after a comment he made about not speaking Marathi sparked outrage and led to the vandalism of his Mumbai office. Kedia, who has lived in Mumbai for over three decades, had posted on social media platform X that he deliberately chose not to learn Marathi as a reaction against political figures like Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray, who he felt were using language as a tool to divide society.

In the now-deleted post, Kedia wrote, “I don’t know Marathi properly even after living 30 years in Mumbai… I resolve that until such people who pretend to take care of Marathi Manus remain, I won’t learn Marathi.” This comment drew immediate criticism and was seen by MNS supporters as a challenge to the cultural identity of Maharashtra.

Early Saturday morning, a group of unidentified individuals believed to be linked to the MNS vandalized Kedia’s office in Worli. The attackers reportedly threw coconuts and stones, broke the glass entrance, and shouted slogans supporting Raj Thackeray and Marathi pride. Following the incident, Mumbai Police detained several people for questioning to prevent further escalation.

Amid growing pressure and fearing for his safety, Kedia released a video statement retracting his earlier remarks. Addressing Raj Thackeray directly, he apologized and clarified that his words were written in frustration and under external provocation. Kedia explained, “Truth is, even after living more than 30 years in Mumbai, we will not be able to speak Marathi with the same fluency as those born here.” He stressed that his intention had not been to insult the Marathi language or its speakers but rather to express frustration at divisive politics.

The controversy has reignited discussions about linguistic identity in Mumbai, where language often intersects with politics and regional pride. While Kedia’s office has now been given additional police protection, the incident highlights the sensitivity surrounding language issues in Maharashtra and the risks public figures face when making statements that may be perceived as disrespectful.