Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray has asked all party workers and leaders to stop speaking to the media without his permission amid the language row that erupted after an attack on a food stall owner over not speaking in Marathi.

Thackeray asked MNS workers not to post videos or reactions on social media.

He directed MNS leaders, tasked with speaking to the media, to seek his permission before making any communication on the matter.

"A clear directive... No one from the party should interact with newspapers, news channels, or any digital media. Likewise, absolutely do not post videos of your reactions on social media," he said in a post on X.

"And those spokespersons officially assigned the responsibility of interacting with the media should also not engage with any form of media without consulting me or obtaining my permission, nor should they express themselves on social media," Thackeray added.

Thackeray's direction came hours after an NDTV reporter confronted an MNS leader over the language row.

Earlier in the day, a large number of people from the MNS and other pro-Marathi groups under the aegis of the Marathi Ekikaran Samiti held a counter-protest against traders, who recently came together to condemn the assault on the food stall owner over not speaking in Marathi.

Several MNS members were detained. Leaders and workers of the Opposition Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP) also joined the protest.