A group of Maharashtrian tourists visited the Montmartre area in Paris, where a street performer was entertaining the crowd. Suddenly, one tourist placed his arm around the performer and began loudly chanting slogans such as “Jai Maharashtra”, “Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj ki Jai”, “Jai Shiv Sena” and “Shinde Saheb Aage Badho!” Soon, others in the group joined in, intensifying the chants despite the performer’s visible discomfort.
The first two slogans express pride in the region and reverence for the historical figure Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, emblematic of Maharashtra, while the other two praise Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena. A video of the incident quickly went viral, sparking heated online debates about civic sense, public behaviour abroad, and the appropriateness of raising regional or political slogans in such settings.

This is not an isolated case. Ganesh Visarjan in a river in London or Nagar Kirtan in New Zealand have drawn mixed reactions online. While some praised these as vibrant displays of cultural heritage abroad, others expressed concerns about their potential impact on the environment, public hygiene, and disruption of local life. At a point in........

© Indian Express