Latest news with #non-Marathis
Time of India
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Naxals should embrace Ambedkarvad, says Athawale
Kolhapur: Union minister of social justice Ramdas Athawale , while speaking in Kolhapur on Tuesday, urged all naxals to renounce violence and embrace "Ambedkarvad" — the ideals of Babasaheb Ambedkar. Athawale, who is also the president of the Republican Party of India (RPI), clarified that the Jan Suraksha Act, passed by the state legislature, is not intended to suppress democratic movements. "Instead its target is violent and undemocratic movements like naxalism. Simply expressing dissent through writing or speaking against the govt would not lead to action under this Act," he said. "The method of naxals is to backstab. We were never called naxals when we hit the streets. The way naxals carry out their movement is totally wrong. The govt should not interpret Ambedkarites as naxalites. We are different in ideology and means," he added. On being asked about the likelihood of Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray coming together for the Mumbai municipal election, Athawale said, "Now, there are 60% non-Marathis in Mumbai, and they are against Raj. Both Thackerays will get votes only from Marathi people. We will easily defeat them in the election."
Time of India
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Uddhav hits out at CM over ‘rudali' comment, calls him ‘perverted and mean-spirited'
Mumbai: Hitting back at CM Devendra Fadnavis for his comment that the Thackeray cousins' 'reunion' rally was a "rudali" (professional women mourners) act and not a "victory celebration", Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray said that the "original BJP " was "dead" and that "those who feel sad about the happy moments of Marathi people are very perverted and mean-spirited." Uddhav also clarified that he was not against any language but was against Hindi compulsion or the imposition of any language. "If they want to have three languages, they must tell us what third language will be taught in Uttar Pradesh," he said. "I can understand their (BJP) mentality because the original BJP is dead. It was murdered by these people. 'Rudali' is also a Hindi word. They have taken help from our party, Congress, NCP, and parties across the country to get people to express sorrow because the original BJP is dead," Uddhav said while speaking at Vidhan Bhavan. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai He also hit out at BJP minister Ashish Shelar, who compared the terrorists in Pahalgam to those assaulting non-Marathis in Mumbai. "We Shiv Sainiks are helping people without looking at caste or religion. Those who are comparing Marathi people with the terrorists of Pahalgam are the real killers of Marathi. They cannot even save Hindus; they are taking sides with those who do injustice to Marathi. If any BJP member is comparing a Marathi person who agitates for rights with the terrorists of Pahalgam, they are the killers of Marathi. So did the terrorists of Pahalgam join the BJP? They should tell us. Where did they go? Are they living in the houses of those who accused us? It is the misfortune of Maharashtra that such incompetent people are ruling in Maharashtra," he said. Uddhav also held a meeting of Sena (UBT) legislators in Vidhan Bhavan and asked them to remind assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar about the appointment of the leader of ppposition (LoP) in the assembly. The Sena (UBT) will give a reminder letter to Narwekar on Tuesday asking him to make a decision on appointing an LoP. Narwekar has said they are studying the rules and examining if the LoP's post can be given if a party has less than 10% MLAs. After the budget session, this is the second session of the new Mahayuti govt without an LoP in the assembly. Uddhav hits out at CM over 'rudali' comment, calls him 'perverted and mean-spirited' Chaitanya Marpakwar Mumbai: Hitting back at CM Devendra Fadnavis for his comment that the Thackeray cousins' 'reunion' rally was a "rudali" (professional women mourners) act and not a "victory celebration", Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray said that the "original BJP" was "dead" and that "those who feel sad about the happy moments of Marathi people are very perverted and mean-spirited." Uddhav also clarified that he was not against any language but was against Hindi compulsion or the imposition of any language. "If they want to have three languages, they must tell us what third language will be taught in Uttar Pradesh," he said. "I can understand their (BJP) mentality because the original BJP is dead. It was murdered by these people. 'Rudali' is also a Hindi word. They have taken help from our party, Congress, NCP, and parties across the country to get people to express sorrow because the original BJP is dead," Uddhav said while speaking at Vidhan Bhavan. He also hit out at BJP minister Ashish Shelar, who compared the terrorists in Pahalgam to those assaulting non-Marathis in Mumbai. "We Shiv Sainiks are helping people without looking at caste or religion. Those who are comparing Marathi people with the terrorists of Pahalgam are the real killers of Marathi. They cannot even save Hindus; they are taking sides with those who do injustice to Marathi. If any BJP member is comparing a Marathi person who agitates for rights with the terrorists of Pahalgam, they are the killers of Marathi. So did the terrorists of Pahalgam join the BJP? They should tell us. Where did they go? Are they living in the houses of those who accused us? It is the misfortune of Maharashtra that such incompetent people are ruling in Maharashtra," he said. Uddhav also held a meeting of Sena (UBT) legislators in Vidhan Bhavan and asked them to remind assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar about the appointment of the leader of ppposition (LoP) in the assembly. The Sena (UBT) will give a reminder letter to Narwekar on Tuesday asking him to make a decision on appointing an LoP. Narwekar has said they are studying the rules and examining if the LoP's post can be given if a party has less than 10% MLAs. After the budget session, this is the second session of the new Mahayuti govt without an LoP in the assembly.
Time of India
06-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Shelar invokes Pahalgam: ‘Here, Hindus attacked over language'
Mumbai: Mumbai BJP president Ashish Shelar said action is being taken against those indulging in physical violence over the three-language policy. In the Mira Road incident, where a local businessman was recently slapped by MNS workers and in the Sushil Kedia case, police were quick to file an FIR and arrest MNS workers accused of physical assault and violence. CM Fadnavis holds the home portfolio. Shelar, while criticising the Thackeray cousins, linked the Pahalgam terror attack to the assault on non-Marathis. He said, "In Pahalgam, people were shot based on their religion—Hindus were targeted. Here, innocent Hindus are being beaten up after being questioned about their language," he said. tnn
Time of India
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
'If Marathi or Maharashtra is insulted ... ': Aaditya Thackeray issues 'things can escalate' warning; language row heats up
NEW DELHI: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray on Thursday issued a strong warning in the midst of a deepening language row in Maharashtra, saying any insult to Marathi or the state will not be tolerated. The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader's comments come just hours after a controversial assault on a sweet shop owner in Mira Road, allegedly carried out by men affiliated with the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), for refusing to speak in Marathi. 'We want that our mother tongue Marathi is not insulted and no language is forcefully imposed,' Thackeray said in Mumbai. 'We don't want anybody to take the law into their hands, but when it is the other way round and Marathi or Maharashtra is insulted, things can escalate...' The warning follows a viral video showing shop owner Babulal Khimji Chaudhary being attacked after his staff responded in Hindi to a group of men. The accused reportedly objected to this and demanded that Marathi be spoken. When Chaudhary explained that his workers were from other states, the situation worsened. Also read: 'Speak Marathi in Maharashtra,' says Minister after shopkeeper thrashed in Thane He told police that the men became aggressive when he responded that all languages are spoken in Maharashtra. An FIR has been registered against seven unidentified individuals. While the MNS has not denied the involvement of its workers, it has justified the incident by accusing the shop owner of arrogance. 'The owner was arrogant and said that all languages are spoken in Maharashtra. This triggered the argument,' an MNS office-bearer said, adding that their party members were celebrating the state government's withdrawal of a controversial language policy when the altercation occurred. T he political backdrop to this row is the recent decision by the Maharashtra government to cancel a plan that would have made Hindi a compulsory third language in primary schools. The move had sparked backlash from opposition parties including Shiv Sena (UBT), MNS and NCP (SP), who accused the government of trying to impose Hindi on Marathi students. Following pressure, the government rolled back the resolution. Uddhav Thackeray praised the rollback as a victory for the "Marathi manoos" and urged that Marathi be developed as a language of global knowledge. He accused the government of attempting to create divisions between Marathis and non-Marathis.
NDTV
03-07-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
" Marathi Ko Mara?": How Phone Recharge Dispute Snowballed Into Marathi Row
Mumbai: An altercation over a phone recharge in Thane has snowballed into a Marathi vs non-Marathi row, and a leader of Uddhav Thackeray's party is drawing fire over a viral video in which some non-Marathis are seen apologising to a Marathi man as he slaps them across the face. This comes at a time when the language row in Maharashtra is intensifying after some supporters of the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena assaulted a shopkeeper for refusing to speak Marathi. The Thane row started with a man visiting a shop to get his phone recharged on July 1. Kiran Tanaji Sawant, 43, asked the shop staff to recharge his cellphone, but the recharge did not happen due to a technical problem. Mr Sawant, the shopkeepers say, lost his cool and started creating a ruckus. This led to a scuffle between Mr Sawant and 4-5 staff members in the shop, leaving him injured. Mr Sawant then approached the police and filed a complaint. A case was registered against Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections relating to causing hurt. Police detained four of the accused and released them after giving notice. The matter then shifted to the office of former Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Rajan Vichare. A video that has now gone viral shows Mr Vichare hearing the matter from the shop staff. At one point, one of his aides stops a staff member from speaking and says, "Marathi mein bol, Marathi ko mara na? Marathi mein bol." The video then shows Kiran Sawant. One by one, those accused of assaulting him approach him and apologise with folded hands. They touch his feet. He responds by slapping them across the face. The accused are asked to hold their ears, look at the camera and say that they have made a mistake and won't repeat it. The video has sparked massive outrage amid the Marathi vs non-Marathi debate. While a section of politicians in Maharashtra stress that those living in the state for work must respect and learn the local language, others argue that no one can be forced to speak a language and urged Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to prevent any violence over the language row.
