Raj Thackeray.
Following the recent scuffle among supporters of MLAs in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, the debate over Marathi vs Hindi has intensified in state politics. On Friday, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray while addressing a huge public meeting in Nityanand Nagar on Meera Road attacked the state government and raised open voice in support of Marathi language.
Raj Thackeray said at the beginning of the meeting, what has happened to our Maharashtra? Referring to the recent incident, he said that his party workers raised their hands in protest against the insult of Marathi language and identity, which is being promoted in the wrong way. Describing his supporters as soldiers of Maharashtra, Thackeray said, “When my soldiers raise their hands for Marathi language, where are those who question our party now?”
Hungry warning on imposition of Hindi
Raj Thackeray opposed the decision of the state government to make Hindi language mandatory from first to fifth grade and said that this step is a conspiracy to eradicate the identity of Maharashtra. He said in clear words, learn Marathi, we do not want any quarrel, but if you joke, Maharashtra will get a shock.
He said, yesterday Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that he will make Hindi mandatory as a third language. If the government wants to commit suicide, then do it. If we do not only shop, we will also close the school if needed
Accused of conspiracy to separate Mumbai
Raj Thackeray made serious allegations against the central government and the Chief Minister, saying that the attempt to impose Hindi is part of the long -term conspiracy to separate Mumbai from Maharashtra. He said, this strategy of the center is not new. There has been a plan to separate Mumbai from Maharashtra since the time of Congress. The same intention is still today.
Thackeray demanded that Marathi be made mandatory in Maharashtra and said, Marathi should be mandatory in schools in other states, but you are making Hindi mandatory. Under whose pressure? At whose behest?
Cleaning on the incident of MNS supporters
While clarifying the recent clash in Meera Road, Thackeray said that the incident happened due to a normal debate. He told, MNS workers were marching against imposing Hindi, when a person interrupted them and said that only Hindi goes on here. This raised outrage and increased the matter.
He said that this incident was called to shut down by giving political color, which is unfortunate. Thackeray said, shops were closed without understanding the subject. Are there no Marathi traders here? How long will you stay closed shops?
This speech of Raj Thackeray has once again given a new dimension to the debate about Marathi Asmita in the state. Its clear message is that if the state government maintains the policy of imposing Hindi, MNS is ready to launch a mass movement in the whole of Maharashtra. Thackeray also indicated that if there was a conspiracy about the identity of Mumbai and Maharashtra, both the central and the state government will have to pay it.
