India, July 3 -- Maharashtra minister Yogesh Kadam on Wednesday said speaking Marathi in the state is a must and warned that any perceived disrespect to the language would invite legal consequences. Yogesh Kadam's statement comments came amid outrage over a viral video showing a food stall owner in Thane being assaulted for allegedly refusing to speak in Marathi.

"In Maharashtra, you have to speak Marathi. If you don't know Marathi, your attitude shouldn't be that you won't speak Marathi," Yogesh Kadam told reporters.

"If anyone disrespects Marathi in Maharashtra, we will enforce our laws," the minister said.

Kadam, however, also criticised the manner in which the incident unfolded. "Those who beat up the shopkeeper should not have tak...