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Raj Thackeray criticized CM Fadnavis for prioritizing Hindi over Marathi in schools and urged respect for Marathi culture and local youth in job opportunities.
CM Devendra Fadnavis and MNS chief Raj Thackeray. (File)
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray on Saturday attacked Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis amid the ongoing language row and said the latter thinks about how schoolchildren can be taught Hindi but gives no thought to how those coming from outside to work in the state can learn Marathi.
Addressing the Peasants and Workers Party foundation day event in Panvel, Thackeray also dared the state government to arrest those who protest against projects under the Maharashtra Special Public Security Bill.
“The chief minister of Maharashtra thinks about how schoolchildren can learn Hindi. But the CM does not think about how people, who come to Maharashtra for work, can learn Marathi,” Thackeray said in the presence of Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut, who also addressed the gathering.
His remarks come after Fadnavis reiterated that Marathi must be compulsorily taught in Maharashtra, and they have already made it mandatory. “I firmly believe that Marathi must be compulsorily taught in Maharashtra, and we have already made it mandatory,” he said.
Thackeray also said there is no thought for “bhoomiputra” (sons of the soil) and “Marathi manoos” (Marathi speaking populace), and a terrifying example of it is the Raigad district.
He further pointed out that the land is being taken from farmers, and asserted that industries in the state cannot be built on the tombs of the Marathi manoos. “If you want to bring industries, you have to do it by respecting Marathi manoos. You cannot do that without it,” Thackeray said.
The MNS chief also asked how one can be dubbed parochial if one talks about their state. The remarks come days after Raj and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray shared a political stage last month after nearly two decades to celebrate the rollback of two contentious GRs on the three-language policy and “imposition” of Hindi for students of classes 1-5.
Referring to Raut and Sena (UBT), the MNS chief said “two saffron flags” are furling on a red stage (the colour of PWP).
Thackeray addressing the gathering also assumes significance as the NCP (SP), Sena (UBT) leaders, who are part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi, were also present on stage.
Referring to Raigad’s rapid urbanisation, with satellite cities like Navi Mumbai and Panvel, Thackeray expressed concern that the land of farmers is being acquired, often with the involvement of local Marathi middlemen.
The fence is swallowing the field. On one hand, farmers are getting destroyed, and on the other hand, workers from outside are getting hired, he said.
Thackeray called for the Navi Mumbai Airport, slated to open later this year, to prioritise hiring 100% Marathi youth, emphasising local representation in the workforce.
(With inputs from PTI)
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- Location :
Panvel, India, India
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