
Nod was given for rally, but MNS insisted on specific route for the march: CM Fadnavis
Police detained Maharashtra Navnirman Sena's Thane and Palghar head Avinash Jadhav and several other party activists on Tuesday ahead of the rally planned in Thane's Mira Bhayander area to counter a protest staged earlier by traders against the slapping of a food stall owner for not speaking in Marathi, officials said.
The rally was proposed by the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti in Mira Bhayander area.
Speaking to reporters in the Maharashtra Vidhan Bhavan premises on the issue, Fadnavis said, "There is no opposition to holding a rally. It was difficult to give permission for the sought route. Police requested them to change the route, but the organisers were adamant on a particular route."
"It could cause traffic or a stampede-like situation. In such a situation, police try to convince and offer an alternate route. We are in democracy, everyone has the right to hold rallies," he said.
"If they ask for permission for a proper route, we will give permission today and even tomorrow also. Another organisation held a rally from the route approved by the police, but these people remained adamant on a particular route," he added.
On claims that Mira Road in Thane was being used as a testing ground for new political experiments, the chief minister said a Marathi person has a "large heart".
"The Marathi people, during attacks on the country, cared about the country and did not remain selfish. A Marathi person cannot possess shallow thoughts," he said.
Referring to the sequence of events, Fadnavis said permission was sought late Monday night for holding a gathering, which was also granted.
"But when it came to the rally, they were pushing for a particular route. If permission was given, there might have been a law and order situation. For last so many years, we all are holding rallies and these are always done after consultation with police," he added.
This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Hindu
26 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Devendra Fadnavis to inaugurate Kusumagaraj Marathi language centre; lay foundation stone of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj special centre
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and other ministers of the Maharashtra cabinet will be in JNU on Thursday evening to inaugurate the Kusumagraj Special Centre for Marathi Language, Literature and Culture. The language centre has been named after renowned poet and Jnanpith awardee Kusumagraj, and will focus on Marathi language, literature and cultural traditions. The Chief Minister will also lay the foundation stone for the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Special Centre for Security and Strategic Studies, which will be under the School of International Studies. It will explore indigenous strategic traditions based on the Maratha empire. The centre is envisioned to become a hub for military history, strategy and future policy development rooted in India's past. The Kusumagraj centre will offer postgraduate and certificate-level programmes to promote multilingualism and cultural understanding. 'It will offer MA in Marathi and certificate courses to go with the NEP for non-Marathi speakers like those who speak Tamil. A lot of students from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh have opted for Tamil and there are many who speak Tamil whenever we have functions. This is encouraging because this will unite India and make people more sensitive to other languages of the country. The present state government is giving importance to Marathi, which has been declared by the Centre as one of the classical languages, also because Marathi is a language of great repute and know for its literature,' JNU's VC Santishree Pandit told reporters recently. The State government has announced the funds of ₹10 Crore for each centre. The Marathi centre was first announced in the year 2007 by then Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh. Maharashtra government wants to construct an equestrian statue of Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj inside the campus of Jawaharlal Nehru University. 'We have held preliminary talks with the Vice Chancellor of the University. She is positive about it. A statue of our most revered king in the renowned university will mean spreading the importance of his valour and about Maratha history on a national platform which is holds such a key position in the academic world,' Maharashtra minister Uday Samant told The Hindu. 'We have sought land from JNU for the project. Once the land is allotted, the State government will construct the statue in the campus. There is an in-principle approval for the State government's proposal,' Mr Samant said.


Hindustan Times
8 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
‘Hatred for Modi is being projected onto Hindi': Pawan Kalyan on language controversy
Andhra Pradesh deputy chief minister and actor Pawan Kalyan on Wednesday addressed the ongoing language controversy and the debate around the 'imposition of Hindi.' Responding to allegations that the Centre is forcing Hindi across states, Kalyan said the current discourse reflects how resentment against the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is being redirected toward the Hindi language. Stating that English has become his language of thought, the Janasena founder expressed sadness that he could not find the same in Hindi or Kannada or Marathi.(@APDeputyCMO) Speaking to India Today, Kalyan stressed that no language should be forced on anyone, underlining his commitment to unity. 'No language should be imposed on anybody. I stand for national integrity,' he said. He criticised the anti-Hindi stance taken by some political leaders in Telangana, calling it politically motivated. 'It's surprising. I think this is more about the hatred towards BJP or Modiji, and that hatred is being transferred onto Hindi. That's how I see it,' he stated. His comments come amid ongoing tensions in states like Maharashtra and Karnataka, where heated debates have erupted over the use of Hindi and its role as a medium of instruction in schools and colleges. Kalyan, explaining his own experience with the language, noted its practical importance. 'We are surrounded by Hindi-speaking states. Hindi is a necessity for me,' he said. He also criticised how political entities manipulate the issue for their own advantage. 'Sometimes parties or people spark negativity,' he said, suggesting that the language issue is often politicised rather than driven by genuine cultural concerns. Reflecting on his own schooling, he recalled how Hindi was once just a regular part of the curriculum. 'When I was in school, Hindi was just a second language for all of us. I am able to read and write it today because I learned it then,' he noted. Pointing to the diverse linguistic identity of Telugu-speaking regions, he added, 'I don't know why suddenly it became such a big issue, even in Andhra Pradesh which shares borders with Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Karnataka. Telangana itself has a mixed culture — Urdu and Telugu coexist. Instead of saying 'hospital,' people say 'dawakhana'. What's wrong with that?' 'Like English, Hindi has become a practical necessity' Pawan Kalyan argued that Hindi, much like English, has become a practical necessity in today's world. 'No one taught me English by force. It became a necessity. Today we're speaking in English not because we love it, but because it has become essential. Similarly, Hindi is also necessary today,' he explained. Responding to criticism of inconsistency in his stance, Kalyan drew from his personal and professional background, citing his multilingual experience. 'I grew up in Chennai. I love Tamil. I learned it out of interest and necessity — not because anyone forced me. I do the same when I visit Karnataka or Maharashtra. I try to speak Kannada or Marathi. That is the approach we need. A multilingual perspective is important for national linguistic integration,' he said. When asked if he would maintain the same stand in Tamil Nadu, where opposition to Hindi is more pronounced, Kalyan said he already had. 'I have said this before and I will say it again. I love Hindi and respect it — it was my second language in school. Language should be for better communication and integration, not for division,' he said. Referring to Tamil poet Subramania Bharati, he highlighted the poet's example of embracing cultural and linguistic unity: 'Bharati grew up in Kashi. His attire resembled a Sikh turban. He embraced integration in thought, language and attire. There are great people in Tamil Nadu who welcome Hindi.' Kalyan cautioned that forcing any language would only backfire. 'Even a child resists when the mother forces something. You have to create awareness about why learning Hindi is important, not impose it. If you speak to people rationally and logically, you'll get results,' he noted. Earlier, speaking to PTI, Kalyan said, 'Majority of the people think they want to be multilinguistic (multilingual). Let us give them a fair chance and a fair opportunity,' in an interview with PTI Videos. He also shared his personal reflection on language and thought, expressing concern that Hindi and other Indian languages had not become his primary languages for thinking. 'My mother tongue is not Hindi. My mother tongue is not English. Sometimes I feel sad that my thinking language has become English or Telugu. Telugu is a natural way to think, but I could adopt English as a thinking language,' he said. Backing the need for multilingualism in a globalised society, Kalyan added, 'There is nothing wrong in a world where we are interacting with multiculturalism as multilingual skills are needed.' He also urged political leaders to consider the needs of future generations when it comes to language. 'Oncoming generations' must be taken into account, he said, suggesting space should be made for multilingual approaches.


The Hindu
9 hours ago
- The Hindu
Linguistic hatred will harm Maharashtra, affect investments: Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan
Amid the ongoing controversy over the Marathi language, Maharashtra Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan advised staying away from spreading 'linguistic hatred', as it would affect the industry and investments in the State. While speaking at the coffee table book launch on Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Mr. Radhakrishnan on Tuesday (July 22, 2025) said, 'Can I speak in Marathi immediately after being slapped. Such hatred, in the long run, will harm the State.' Mr. Radhakrishnan narrated an incident reflecting on the linguistic hatred and said, 'When I was an MP in Tamil Nadu, I saw a group beating up another over not speaking Tamil. On inquiring, I learnt that the victim was a north Indian and miscreants wanted him to speak Tamil. Mr. Radhkrishnan, reflecting on his own struggle with Hindi, suggested to learn multiple languages while being 'proud of our own'. Minister Girish Mahajan also reiterated his sentiments and said, 'We should be proud of the Marathi language, but to enforce on others, especially violently, is not right.' He also highlighted the Maharashtrians, including those who travel outside Maharashtra. So, we need to have mutual respect across linguistic lines. Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray responded to the governor's remarks, saying, no need to make political comments as there is no linguistic hatred in the State.