‘Bullying non-Marathi speakers is wrong': Ramdas Athawale warns of action in Maharashtra; calls Uddhav, Raj Thackeray's stand ‘against Balasaheb's vision'
NEW DELHI: Union minister of state for social justice and empowerment
Ramdas Athawale
on Wednesday said that the Devendra Fadnavis-led Maharashtra government will not tolerate incidents of "bullying" non-Marathi speakers in the state.
'Those who indulge in such bullying will be taught a lesson,' Athawale said at a press conference, adding that the approach of leaders
Uddhav Thackeray
and
Raj Thackeray
on the issue is 'against Balasaheb Thackeray's vision.'
'I said that this is wrong. Knowing Marathi is fine. Telling them to learn Marathi is okay, but bullying them, slapping them, that is not right. Action has been taken by the police against those involved in such illegal actions, and our government will not allow such bullying,' Athawale stated.
Criticising what he called 'wrong politics' in the name of Marathi, Athawale pointed out that Mumbai is the financial capital of India and home to people from across the country. 'It is not about opposing Hindi. There was a concern that teaching Hindi from first grade is not right. Balasaheb Thackeray founded the Shiv Sena so that Marathi people could get justice. However, what Uddhav and Raj Thackeray are doing is against Balasaheb Thackeray's vision.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
AirSense 11 – Smart tech for deep sleep
ResMed
Buy Now
Undo
We also love Marathi. Bullying can be answered with bullying. In Maharashtra, there is Devendra Fadnavis's government and those who do such bullying will be taught a lesson,' he said.
T
he minister also underlined the contribution of non-Marathi people to Mumbai's growth. 'Major industrialists like Tata, Birla, Ambani and Adani have played a big role,' he said, adding that such incidents damage Mumbai's status.
'Around 60 per cent of people in Mumbai are non-Marathi. Of these, 80 per cent speak Marathi, but 20 per cent don't. Hindi is our national language. Our government will not allow such bullying,' Athawale asserted.
Praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Republican Party of India (A) chief said, 'It is my party's view that Modi should remain the prime minister till 2029. What RSS says about retiring at 75, I don't know.
But under Modi's leadership, the government has come back... we need Modi as PM till 2029.'
On the controversy over revision of electoral rolls in Bihar, Athawale said, 'There is a suspicion that Bangladeshi people may be living in Bihar with changed names. We should find out where they were born. If they were born in Bihar, there is no problem. But if they were born in Bangladesh and haven't taken citizenship, they should be removed from the voters' list.'
On opposition leader Rahul Gandhi, Athawale said, 'Congress leader Rahul Gandhi can have his views. Anyone has the right to come to power in a democracy. The BJP was also once in opposition and came to power.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
24 minutes ago
- Hans India
Piyush Goyal exhorts nation's youth to be architects of Viksit Bharat
New Delhi: Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, on Friday exhorted the country's youth to actively contribute to building a Viksit Bharat by 2047, as envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Panch Pran' (five pledges) for 'Amrit Kaal'. Inaugurating India's International Movement to Unite Nations (IIMUN) Conference 2025 here, the minister called upon the youth to commit themselves to making India a developed country by 2047. Recalling the Prime Minister's address on August 15, 2022, he said the 25-year period of Amrit Kaal leading up to the centenary of India's independence in 2047 is a defining moment for the nation. He elaborated that the first of the five pledges is the resolve to make India a developed nation. Urging the youth to visualise themselves over the next few decades, he said they will be the primary drivers of this transformation. 'This commitment can only be realised if we also embrace the remaining four pledges with equal seriousness,' he told the gathering. The second pledge, Goyal noted, is to shed the colonial mindset. Referring to India's rich history as a global economic powerhouse, he said centuries of foreign subjugation had eroded confidence and imposed limitations. 'We must not be bound by the constraints of the past but instead aspire to meet global benchmarks and set ambitious goals,' he stated. The third pledge is about taking pride in India's heritage. Goyal said that India's history, culture, traditions and value systems hold deep significance as we move towards becoming a developed nation. 'Vikas bhi, virasat bhi – we must pursue development while preserving our heritage. Our diversity is our strength, and we must amalgamate our traditions into a collective journey towards progress,' he added. Speaking about the fourth pledge, the minister said that unity and integrity of the nation must be paramount. Commending IIMUN for its efforts to engage youth from across India and abroad, Goyal remarked that this unity is India's greatest strength and must be nurtured at every level. He underscored that this collective spirit is fundamental to the country's journey towards becoming a developed nation. The fifth pledge, he said, is the collective resolve of 1.4 billion Indians to contribute to nation-building. Goyal emphasised that a developed India can only emerge when all citizens work together like a family, with shared responsibility and compassion. 'We must be concerned for the marginalised, care for the underprivileged, and ensure that our progress is inclusive and sustainable,' he said. The minister encouraged the youth to accept nation-building as a duty and a privilege, and to perform every task with commitment and dedication. He urged them to inculcate care and concern for others and give their best to whatever job they undertake. Goyal also urged the youth to actively consider participating in public life. Recalling the Prime Minister's address on Independence Day 2024, he noted that the Prime Minister had called upon one lakh young men and women to enter politics and public service to become agents of change. 'There is a need for capable and committed individuals to contribute to policymaking with compassion, dedication, and a spirit of service,' he said. Goyal urged the youth to take charge of India's future, saying, 'Be the changemakers, the movers and shakers of tomorrow's India. With collective resolve, we can overcome every challenge and lead our nation to greater heights.'
United News of India
24 minutes ago
- United News of India
Stalin slams Modi govt. as ‘National Dictatorship Arrangement' fomenting communalism
Chennai, July 18 (UNI) Giving a new nomenclature to the BJP-led NDA at the helm at the centre as 'National Dictatorship Arrangement', Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president MK Stalin today charged the Modi government with fomenting communalism in the past 11 years it is in office. 'Crushing the democratic rights of the people, stripping the States of their legitimate rights, imposing Sanskrit & Hindi everywhere, fostering communalism and especially discriminating Tamil Nadu marks the 11-years of the Union government under the BJP, which is a #National Dictatorship Arrangement,' he wrote on 'X'. 'I have suitably advised the DMK MPs to be the voice of democracy in opposing the National Dictatorship Arrangement,' he added. In another post, marking the anniversary of DMK founder and late Chief Minister CN Annadurai re-christening the Madras State as 'Tamil Nadu' in 1967, Stalin said 'Realising a dream that generations have kept dear in their hearts, it was a historic moment. On June 18, 1967, the Tamil land got its new nomenclature – Tamil Nadu. Anna (on the passage of the Bill), declared 'Tamil Nadu' thrice to the thumping of the desks in the Assembly. In the 1967 Assembly election, the DMK had dethroned the Congress and since then no national party could come to power in the Dravidian heartland, being ruled alternately by either the DMK or the AIADMK. Many congress leaders were defeated, including the stalwart K Kamaraj, who had been AICC President as well, had to bite the dust in his native Virudhunagar. He lost to a greenhorn. UNI MCR GV 1512
Time of India
24 minutes ago
- Time of India
Bringing motion to remove Justice Varma matter of MPs, govt not in picture: Arjun Ram Meghwal
Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal stated that the impeachment motion against Allahabad High Court judge Yashwant Varma rests with the MPs. A prior in-house committee report exists. Justice Varma has approached the Supreme Court. Parliament holds the power to remove judges. The support of a specific number of members is needed. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said on Friday that bringing an impeachment motion in Parliament against Allahabad High Court judge Yashwant Varma is entirely a matter of the MPs and the government is nowhere in the an interview to PTI Videos, Meghwal pointed out that the in-house committee set up by then chief justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna to look into the allegations against Justice Varma has already submitted its Justice Varma does not agree with the report and approaches the Supreme Court or a high court, it is his prerogative, the minister said Parliament has the right to remove a Supreme Court or high court support of at least 100 members in the Lok Sabha and 50 in the Rajya Sabha is needed to pass a motion for the impeachment of a judge, he said this is entirely a matter of the MPs, some efforts have been made by them and the government is not in the Justice Varma has moved the Supreme Court, seeking to invalidate the report submitted by the in-house inquiry panel, which has found him guilty of misconduct in a cash-discovery has sought the quashing of the May 8 recommendation by then CJI Khanna to remove him from his government is pushing for a motion to remove Justice Varma in Parliament's Monsoon session that is scheduled to start from July 21. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has said the MPs of his party will also sign the 25-page inquiry report of Delhi High Court Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya, uploaded on the Supreme Court's website, contains two short notes in Hindi that mention that after a fire at the storeroom of Justice Varma's Lutyens' Delhi residence on March 14 was doused, four to five half-burnt sacks containing currency notes were found. The report said prima facie, it seemed that a short-circuit had led to the Varma, who was a judge of the Delhi High Court then, had, in his response, strongly denounced the allegations and said no cash was ever placed in the storeroom either by him or any of his family members.
