New Delhi: Amid a row unfolding in Tamil Nadu over language, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader Suresh ‘Bhaiyyaji’ Joshi has stirred a controversy in Maharashtra by saying that knowing and speaking Marathi is not necessary to live in Mumbai.
“Mumbai doesn’t have one language. Mumbai has many languages. But every area has a dominant language. The language of the neighbourhood of Ghatkopar is Gujarati. In Girgaum, there are more Marathi speakers than Hindi. So, it is not necessary for people coming to Mumbai to learn Marathi,” Joshi can be heard saying in a video being circulated on social media.
The Opposition was quick to target the Bharatiya Janata Party and the state government on the matter, with Maha Vikas Aghadi leaders and workers staging a protest at Mumbai’s Hutatma Chowk Thursday. Uddhav Thackeray said the RSS leader should be booked for treason.
However, Joshi, All India Executive Committee Member of RSS, clarified Thursday, “My statement from yesterday has created some confusion. There is no question that Marathi is not the language of Mumbai. Maharashtra’s language is Marathi and Mumbai is in Maharashtra, and naturally Marathi is the language of Mumbai. Bharat has diverse languages and that is what makes Bharat special. In Mumbai also, people speaking different languages reside, and naturally the expectation is that they should also understand, and learn Marathi and study Marathi.”
He added, “I am myself a Marathi-speaking person. My mother-tongue is Marathi. I was speaking about the co-existence of different languages. Still, I wish to clarify that Marathi is the language of Mumbai and Maharashtra, and all living here must learn Marathi,” he said.
Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Sanjay Raut said, “The margdarshak (guide) of BJP, policymaker and leader of RSS came to Mumbai yesterday, and declared that Marathi isn’t part of the capital city, and that anyone can live and work here without knowing Marathi. Who gave you the right to make such a statement? Can you go to Kolkata and say that your language is not Bengali. Can you say in Kochi or Trivandrum that Malayalam is not the language? Can you go to Lucknow and stand in front of Yogi and say that Hindi is not the language of Lucknow…”
He added, “Your intention and desire of breaking Mumbai from Maharashtra once again reflects in the speech. We have made sacrifices for our Marathi language. Our people were martyred. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj established this state. His language was Marathi. You see the history.”
Raut also demanded a censure motion on the statement from the chief minister and deputy chief ministers of Maharashtra.
“I haven’t heard the statement. I will listen to it and talk about it,” said Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in the state assembly. “But what’s the government’s stand? It is definite that Mumbai, Maharashtra government’s official language is Marathi. Everyone who stays in Maharashtra should know Marathi, should learn Marathi. And truth be told, I don’t think Bhaiyyaji will think any differently.”
He added, “We respect other languages, too. We will never disrespect them because ultimately, only someone who has pride in their own language can respect another language.”
Congress leader Nana Patole said BJP and RSS are trying to divert attention from other key issues by sparking debates on the issue of language.
“It is their government, it is RSS’s government… Today, farmers’ crops are drying up in Maharashtra. Can’t RSS give suggestions to the government on this? Is RSS not concerned about unemployment in Maharashtra?” he remarked.
In Tamil Nadu, the DMK government is currently sparring with the BJP-led central government over the adoption of the three-language formula in the New Education Policy (NEP).
(Edited by Mannat Chugh)
Also Read: Why DMK-led Tamil Nadu govt is at war with the Centre over NEP
