'During Attack, MNS Warriors Were Missing': 26/11 Hero Slams Raj Thackeray Over Marathi Row
Amid The ongoing Marathi language row, decorated ex-Marine Commando Praveen Kumar Teotia, who played a key role in the counter-terror operations during the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, has hit out at Raj Thackeray and his party, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), for politicising language and regional identity.
Teotia, a gallantry awardee and survivor of the 2008 terrorist siege at the Taj Hotel, said, 'When the 26/11 terrorist attack happened, their so-called warriors hid and could not be found anywhere. Raj Thackeray himself, along with Uddhav Thackeray and his family, were also missing." He went on to credit the rescue operations to defence personnel largely from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, including himself. 'I handled the situation and faced the terrorists. I am also from UP, from a village of Chaudhary Charan Singh," he said.
#WATCH | Delhi: On the Marathi language row, ex-Marine Commando Praveen Kumar Teotia, who led the team during the counter-terrorist operations after the 26/11 attack at Mumbai's Taj Hotel, says, 'When the 26/11 terrorist attack happened, their (MNS) so-called warriors hid and… pic.twitter.com/PYwA5Zt9IB — ANI (@ANI) July 6, 2025
Urging politicians to separate language from politics, Teotia emphasized that while people take pride in Marathi, it should not be weaponized for political gain.
'If you want to do politics, do it for developmental work and employment. Raj Thackeray and MNS have not done any such work yet," he remarked. His comments add a sharp counterpoint to the recent political rhetoric on Marathi identity, particularly in the backdrop of ongoing regional tensions and linguistic debates in Maharashtra.
First Published:
July 07, 2025, 14:40 IST
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