
DMK's struggle against Hindi imposition swirling like storm of protest in Maharashtra: TN CM Stalin hails Thackerays
In a harsh post on social media platform X on Saturday, Stalin said the language rights struggle, waged by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in Tamil Nadu, 'is swirling like a storm of protest in Maharashtra.'
'The language rights struggle, waged generation after generation by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the people of Tamil Nadu to defeat Hindi imposition, has now transcended state boundaries and is swirling like a storm of protest in Maharashtra,' CM Stalin said in a post in Tamil.
Shiv Sena (UBT) Chief Uddhav Thackeray and his cousin, MNS chief Raj Thackeray, held a joint victory rally over the Maharashtra government's withdrawal of two Government Resolutions (GRs) implementing the three-language policy.
'The BJP, which acts lawlessly and anarchically by stating that funds will be allocated only if Hindi is taught as a third language in Tamil Nadu schools, has been forced to back down for the second time in Maharashtra, where they govern, due to fear of the people's uprising,' the CM.
Referring to Shiv Sena (UBT) chief as 'brother', Stalin hailed Uddhav Thackeray's powerful oratory in the victory rally.
The 'enthusiasm and powerful oratory' of the victory rally held today in Mumbai under the leadership of brother #UddhavThackeray against 'Hindi imposition fills us with immense excitement.'
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and MNS chief Raj Thackeray held a joint victory rally after the Maharashtra government scrapped two Government Resolutions (GRs) to introduce Hindi as the third language.
'I know well that the Union government, which prioritizes the promotion of Hindi and Sanskrit full-time, has no answers to the questions raised by Mr. #RajThackeray: What is the third language taught in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan? and Hindi-speaking states are lagging behind--why are you imposing Hindi on the people of progressive non-Hindi-speaking states?,' read the post further.
'Will the Union government change its vindictive stance of releasing Rs 2,152 crore in funds under the integrated education scheme (Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan) only if Tamil Nadu accepts the new education policy that imposes Hindi and Sanskrit under the guise of the three-language policy? Will it immediately release the funds legally owed for the education of Tamil Nadu's schoolchildren?' Stalin asked.
The 'struggle' waged by the people of Tamil Nadu against Hindi dominance is not only 'emotional but also intellectual! It is logical! It is for the protection of India's pluralistic culture! It is not driven by hatred!,' mentioned the post.
Unaware of the history of numerous Indian languages being 'destroyed due to Hindi imposition' and failing to understand the agenda of 'turning India into the Hindi nation,' some naive individuals here parrot phrases like 'learning Hindi will get you jobs.' They must reform now. The 'uprising in Maharashtra will open their eyes of wisdom!'
'We will not allow the discrimination in fund allocation for Tamil or the arrogance of refusing to recognise the Keezhadi civilisation to continue. The BJP must atone for the betrayal it has committed against Tamil and Tamil Nadu. If not, Tamil Nadu will once again teach the BJP and its new allies a lesson they will never forget,' Stalin added.(ANI)
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India.com
an hour ago
- India.com
Thackeray Reunion Puts BJP, Shinde Camp On Edge; Congress Watches In Silence
In a dramatic turn of events, estranged cousins Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray shared a stage for the first time in 20 years, showcasing their unity and celebrating their perceived "victory" over the Mahayuti government's decision to roll back the three-language policy. The cousins delivered public addresses at the NSCI Dome in Mumbai's Worli, making a significant statement with their hand-in-hand political show. Shiv Sena (UBT) Supremo and Babasaheb Thackeray's son, Uddhav, made a big statement during the "victory rally" and said that they have 'come together to stay together'. Meanwhile, their coming together could be a pivotal point for their political rivals and allies alike. Thackeray Reunion Impact On BJP The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) bagged 132 of the 288 seats in Maharashtra during the state Assembly elections in 2024. With this victory, the party established its dominance as the top party. However, with the Thackeray brothers' reunion, there lie several challenges ahead. The upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections will be a crucial point for the BJP, with the Shiv Sena (UBT) and Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), which could be a potential game-changer for the BJP's dominance in Maharashtra. After the rally of the once-rival brothers, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed gratitude to Raj Thackeray for giving him the credit for their reunion, as he must be getting the blessings of Balasaheb Thackeray. He also alleged that Raj and Uddhav are jealous of the work of the Mahayuti alliance The Shinde Factor While the BJP stands at the front in the impact zone, Deputy Chief Minister and former CM Eknath Shinde is also likely to be impacted by the reunion. The upcoming elections and political developments will indeed be crucial for Deputy CM Shinde, given the brothers could claim the Thackeray legacy and Uddhav's repeated "traitor" allegations against the Deputy CM since he broke off with Shiv Sena. Shinde's ability to navigate through the challenges and maintain his political power would be closely watched, especially in the upcoming BMC elections. The ex-Maharashtra CM Shinde, reacting to the public addresses made by Thackerays, alleged that Uddhav's speech was filled with jealousy, bitterness, and power craving. Congress' Calculated Silence? Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel, while speaking to the media, had a positive reaction to the reunion and claimed that the BJP is having sleepless nights due to it. However, Congress' official reaction to the coming together of Raj and Uddhav is still awaited. While the Thackeray brothers' rival parties could be impacted by their joining of hands, their allies in the state, and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) also face a dilemma due to Raj and MNS's public political ideas, including that of an anti-Muslim stance. Alliance Impact On Thackeray Cousins The two Thackeray brothers, for the last 20 years, have preached starkly opposite political ideologies but came together for the Marathi pride. One thing that could ascertain the stance and power of Uddhav and Raj Thackeray and their respective parties is the forthcoming BMC elections, which could be the make-or-break point for their brotherhood.


Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Who scripted the reunion of Thackeray brothers?
As the Thackeray cousins reunited after two decades on Saturday, the question on everyone's mind was: Who mediated between them? And, was the script of the reunion written by someone? Who scripted the reunion of Thackeray brothers? A popular conspiracy theory was that chief minister Devendra Fadnavis had something to do with the reunion. Reason: It would cut deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde to size. Several leaders from the ruling Mahayuti as well as the opposition Congress-NCP(SP) have been pointing out that the whole thing started after Fadnavis had a closed-door meeting with Raj Thackeray on June 12. Five days later, the government issued a revised GR on Hindi as third language that restarted the agitation against the decision. Thereafter, the Thackeray cousins planned separate rallies. Then Raj called up Sanjay Raut for a joint rally and what happened after that is public knowledge. The reunion will mean a division of traditional Shiv Sena votes in the local body polls and could be a setback to the Shinde-led Sena. The move could also split the MVA as Congress does not want an alliance with Raj. In a triangular contest in local body polls in the state, BJP will be the winner, they say. Another theory is that NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar advised the brothers to bury the hatchet pointing out that their outfits would become non-entities if Mahayuti wins big in the polls. However, a couple of top leaders from Shiv Sena (UBT) camp as well as close aides of Raj Thackeray say the cousins communicated among themselves with the changes in circumstances and also due to pressure from their party cadre. The actual process started after Raj's podcast in April in which he spoke about burying the hatchet with Uddhav. While there are speculations on whether Raj really wants the alliance since he remained silent on the same, his aides say he would not have agreed to the reunion had he not been in favour of the alliance. 'His credibility is in question, he is seen as someone who can only split votes but can't win. He wants to put an end to this. And what better platform than a fight for Marathi?' they said. *CM's podcast A day after the Thackeray cousins' reunion in the name of Marathi asmita or Marathi identity, CM Fadnavis launched his podcast series, that too titled, 'Maharashtra Dharma'. In the 25-minute podcast, Fadnavis talks about Maharashtra's spiritual history and tradition of social reformers in conversation with Prof Sadanand More who comes from the family of Sant Tukaram. The timing of the podcast launch begs the question: was it meant to be released after the Thackeray brothers' show? CMO officials say the podcast was in the works and was meant to be released on the occasion of Ashadhi Ekadashi, when thousands of devotees reach Pandharpur's temple of Lord Vitthal. In his first term, Fadnavis had a televised programme, 'Mi Mukhyamantri Boltoy' to connect with the people. In this term, he has opted for the flourishing podcast medium. *Mungantiwar, the most vocal MLA In the ongoing session of the state legislature, the legislator who is posing uncomfortable questions to the ruling parties is not someone from the opposition but one of their own. Senior BJP MLA Sudhir Mungantiwar has been grilling ministers by raising issues that could be embarrassing for the government. From the missing ministers in the house to the dismal performance of the government over solar pump connections, Mungantiwar has been asking the tough questions. While his colleagues from the treasury benches are claiming that the senior legislator is bitter for not being inducted as a minister, Opposition legislators have been understandably encouraging him. Mungantiwar was a minister in the previous BJP-Sena government but did not find a ministerial berth in Fadnavis 2.0 government. *Renaming plans dropped The ruling BJP decided to quietly put to rest a demand made by its Rajya Sabha MP Medha Kulkarni to rename Pune railway station after Peshwa Bajirao. Last month, Kulkarni publicly demanded the renaming which led to several other sections putting forth other names--from social reformist Mahatma Jotiba Phule to Rajmata Jijabai, mother of Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Maratha outfits like Sambhaji Brigade strongly objected to Bajirao's name. In an atmosphere where historical personalities are being divided on the basis of their castes, state BJP leaders were not keen on any new controversy over the renaming. Kulkarni was asked to keep quiet on the issue. As a statue of Peshwa Bajirao was unveiled by union home minister Amit Shah on Friday in Pune, there was no further noise over the renaming.


Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
‘Maharashtra Dharma is a code of ethics': CM in new podcast
Mumbai: The first episode of 'Maharashtra Dharma', a new podcast series featuring chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, was released on Sunday. Titled 'Maharashtra Dharma: Foundation and Formation', the episode was focussed on Maharashtra's spiritual journey across centuries, from its mention in the mythological epics, Ramayana and Mahabharata, to the influence of Lord Buddha, and the rise of the Maratha empire and the freedom movement. CM Devendra Fadnavis (Hindustan Times) The podcast comes amid a raging row in Maharashtra over the government's now-retracted attempt to introduce Hindi as a compulsory third language in schools and efforts by the opposition to portray the ruling Mahayuti alliance as anti-Maharashtra and anti-Marathi manoos. The coming together of estranged cousins Uddhav and Raj Thackeray – the duo addressed a joint rally on July 5 to celebrate the scrapping of government resolutions to introduce Hindi in schools – has further cornered the BJP. Fadnavis' podcast, which will feature him being interviewed by renowned persons from various fields, is an attempt to counter the negative image of the ruling alliance and its lead constituent, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), insiders in the saffron party told Hindustan Times. 'Prior to the (assembly) election, Fadnavis was repeatedly attacked for not sanctioning Maratha reservation while the BJP was painted as an anti-Maharashtra party as several industrial projects shifted out of the state,' said a BJP leader. After the election, the Mahayuti government has been cornered by the opposition over alleged favours doled out to the Adani group and efforts to introduce Hindi in primary schools, the leader said, adding, 'The podcast is a timely intervention.' Sources close to Fadnavis said the chief minister will choose the topics for each podcast episode and one-two episodes will be released every month. 'It will be different from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's podcast, Mann Ki Baat, as Fadnavis will be interviewed by experts from various fields,' said a source. In the first episode, the chief minister was interviewed by Sadanand More, a descendant of the seventeenth century Warkari saint-poet, Tukaram. Maharashtra was mentioned in the Ramanyana as Lord Rama had visited the forests in Vidarbha while he was in exile while his wife Sita was abducted from Panchvati near Nashik, the chief minister said. 'There was mention of Maharashtra in the Mahabharata too, as Arjuna sat for meditation in the Konkan and the Pandavas stayed at Chikhaldara near Amravati,' he said. Fadnavis said the sculptures and paintings in the Ajanta caves were proof that though the Buddha never visited Maharashtra, his message had reached interior areas of the region. 'The mahanubhav sect established by saint Chakradhar in the thirteenth century did not believe in the caste system. Neither did the Warkaris,' he said. The chief minister spoke about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's quest for his ideals, country, God and duty, as opposed to lusting for power. He mentioned a raft of iconic figures from across the political spectrum – from Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar and Mahatma Jyotiba Phule to Lokmanya Tilak and Tukdoji Maharaj, saying they were part of Maharashtra's spiritual and intellectual legacy. 'Maharashtra Dharma is not a religion, but a code of ethics which asks us to think wisely, work with dedication, and stand with courage,' he said. Likening Maharashtra Dharma to a moral compass, he said, 'From the verses of Saint Dnyaneshwar to the sword of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and the lofty vision of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, Maharashtra Dharma has always moved ahead and we need to nurture, preserve and take that legacy ahead.'