Mumbai, Apr 2 (UNI) Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Wednesday that the state government wants Marathi to be used as much as possible but warned that if someone takes the law into their own hands, then the law will take its course.

He was responding to Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray's statement that the party would not back down from "slapping" people residing in the state if they refused to speak Marathi.

Speaking to media here, Fadnavis said, "I tell you clearly, it is not wrong to demand the use of Marathi in Maharashtra. However, if someone takes the law into their own hands, then the law will take its course."

It may be recalled that addressing the party’s annual Gudi Padwa rally at Shivaji Park on Sunday, MNS chief Raj Thackeray had said, “In our Mumbai, they tell us that they cannot speak Marathi… they will get a slap on the face. Don’t tell me about the country and all. Every state has its own language, and it must be respected. In Mumbai, Marathi should be respected.”

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