Amid rising tensions over the language issue in Maharashtra, some Maharashtra Navnirman Sena activists were taken into custody during a protest march they had organised in Thane.

The state government said that although Raj Thackeray's party was initially granted permission, it was later withdrawn because the party insisted on following a specific route.

The MNS went ahead with the rally in Thane even though the state government maintained that no final approval had been given for the march.

After prohibitory orders were issued to prevent gatherings, MNS activists alleged that the state government was trying to block a "Marathi people's march".

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the protest itself had been allowed but the decision on the route was left to the police in view of traffic and crowd concerns.

Fadnavis said the MNS workers refused to change the route, which led to the cancellation of their permission.

"The police commissioner told me that they were requested to divert the route, but they were stubborn to travel on the same route. Hence, the police turned down their request," Fadnavis stated.

"I know Maharashtra's mood. This kind of experiment will not work here. Marathis are big hearted people. Marathis are not narrow-minded," Fadnavis was quoted by news agency PTI.

The MNS had called the rally to counter a protest by traders who had objected to the assault of a shopkeeper for not speaking in Marathi.

"Why are they not permitting Marathi people's march? Is this government of Maharashtra or some other state?" the activists who were detained asked.

The party also rejected Fadnavis's comments on the rally permission and claimed that traders were allowed to march on Mira Road while MNS was not.

"The march of the traders was organised in Mira Road and police wanted us to organise the march at Ghodbunder Road. This indicates that they don't want to allow our march in the Mira Road area. Now, all MNS workers from all over the state will arrive in Mira Road and, will not leave until cops allow us the protest march there," said MNS Mumbai president Sandeep Deshpande.

The traders had held their protest after reports that a shopkeeper was beaten by individuals wearing MNS scarves for not speaking Marathi.

Avinash Jadhav, a local MNS leader, was taken into custody from his house before the planned protest in Thane, according to news agency PTI.

The police had issued orders against Jadhav who is the head of MNS units in Thane and Palghar.

According to the order, there were 28 cases of cognizable offences registered against him.

The police action against MNS members marks the latest major incident in the ongoing dispute between the state government and the Opposition in Maharashtra over the language issue.

In recent months, there have been more reports of people being allegedly attacked for either not speaking or refusing to speak in Marathi.

Apart from this, a government order that made Hindi mandatory as a third language in primary schools also caused controversy.

After facing strong criticism from the Opposition and language advocacy groups, the Maharashtra government decided to withdraw the order.