India, July 24 -- Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar on Thursday weighed in on the ongoing language row in the state, amid a spate of assaults against non-Marathi-speaking migrants for not speaking the language.

Pawar urged caution on the issue, suggesting that those unfamiliar with Marathi should convey that they are making efforts to learn it.

The remarks come even as an attendant at a Nanded bus stop was reportedly assaulted by MNS workers for 'not speaking in Marathi.'

"There are people who live in Maharashtra but don't speak Marathi fluently. Still, they should say, 'We respect the language. Our mother tongue may be Hindi or English, but we are trying to learn Marathi.' Even saying this much can help avoid trouble," Pawa...