Raj Thackeray, head of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), stated on Sunday that the party would not back off on “slapping” residents of the state who decline to speak Marathi.
Speaking during the party’s yearly Gudhi Padwa rally at Shivaji Park in Central Mumbai, Thackeray remarked, “In our Mumbai, they tell us that they cannot speak Marathi… they would get a slap on the face. Don’t talk to me about the nation and everything. Every state has its own language, which should be honoured. Marathi should be respected in Mumbai.
From tomorrow, examine every institution, every bank. See whether Marathi is in use. All of you should stand solidly for Marathi, “Look at Tamil Nadu,” Thackeray remarked. It ventured to reject Hindi. Including Kerala.
The MNS president urged the people of Maharashtra to cease splitting along caste lines, claiming the state’s leaders are intentionally doing so to ignore genuine concerns.
First, I urge Maharashtra’s youth to quit reading history on WhatsApp and from the caste perspective. This is being done to politically split you, prevent you from uniting as Marathis… Pointing out how entrepreneur Gautam Adani is running Mumbai airport, constructing Navi Mumbai airport, and executing Dharavi redevelopment, the MNS head said, “it distracts us and works like giving lands to Adani done quietly.” Adani proved far smarter than any one of us
Referring to the current debate over the mauseoleum of Aurangzeb, Thackeray remarked, “We should not destroy the buildings of those who Marathas vanquished. The world must know we buried them.
Why is everyone now recalling Aurangzeb? A Hindu who wakes up by a movie is of little service. Thackery remarked, “You can’t read History on WhatsApp, have to read books,” adding that a 400-year-old past shouldn’t be a source of contention in the modern age.
Thackeray praised Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanth for acting on loudspeakers, saying, “When I spoke about it, 17,000 workers faced action. CM Fadnavis now claims that from 10 pm to 6 am loudspeakers should not be used. The problem, however, is between six in the morning and ten at night. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi acted there; our administration has not yet done so.
Thackeray, alluding to his remarks on Kumbh Mela where he had mocked drinking the water from river Ganga, stated, “Those who thought I insulted Kumbh Mela are idiots…” We name rivers our deity, mother. Former PM late Rajiv Gandhi was the first to urge Ganga to be cleaned. This goes on even under Narendra Modi’s administration… I met a delegation not long ago who said that attending Kumbh Mela caused some people to become unwell. It’s about the water quality, not about insulting Ganga or Kumbh Mela.
Thackeray later presented a film on the state of river Ganga and its pollution, saying that despite Rs 33,000 crore having been spent on cleaning it, it was of little effect.
What kind of religion is this? Shouldn’t we alter ourselves if our nature is being ruined? The times have changed. “Can’t there be various provision to carry out the last rites?” he remarked, noting that four of Mumbai’s five rivers are dead and the fifth Mithi is about to die.
Thackeray urged Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to work for the state in light of the great mandate obtained, saying, “Devendra Fadnavis give adequate attention to the state. Should your intentions be good, we will assist you. Should you act following our advice, we will assist you in all respects.
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