RSS leader Bhaiyyaji Joshi sparks row with ‘Marathi not needed’ remark, then backtracks
In a written statement on Thursday, Joshi said , “My yesterday’s statement has created some confusion. 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.”
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senior RSS leader Bhaiyyaji (Suresh) JoshiA day after his remark on Marathi language that “Mumbai does not have one language… and any individual coming to Mumbai may not necessarily learn Marathi”, sparked a huge controversy, with Opposition parties demanding clarification from the ruling BJP in the Assembly, senior RSS leader Bhaiyyaji (Suresh) Joshi on Thursday said his statement was misunderstood.
In a written statement on Thursday, Joshi said , “My yesterday’s statement has created some confusion. 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.”
The RSS leader’s remark at a function at Vidyavihar on Wednesday put the BJP on the backfoot as Opposition parties — Shiv Sena (UBT) Congress and NCP (SP) — seized the opportunity to whip up the emotive language plank to paint BJP as anti-Marathi.
Joshi had said Wednesday, “Mumbai does not have any one language. It has many languages. Here certain areas have their own language. The language of Ghatkopar is Gujarati. Whereas in Girgaon, you will have fewer Hindi speakers and more Marathi speakers. So it is that any individual coming to Mumbai may not necessarily learn Marathi.”
His statement created a political storm. The issue was also raised in the ongoing Budget Session of the state Assembly and council, following which Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis clarified the BJP-led Mahayuti government’s stand on Marathi language.
Addressing the Assembly on Thursday, Fadnavis said, “I have not heard what Bhaiyyaji has said, but the language of Mumbai and Maharashtra is Marathi. Everyone should learn and speak the language. If you love and respect your own language, you do the same to other languages. I am sure Bhiayyaji will agree with me.”
Adopting an aggressive stand, Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray said, “Bhaiyyaji Joshi should be booked for treason.”
The debate in Mumbai
With Mumbai drawing migrants from across the country, there is a growing debate over the importance of Marathi in the state’s social and political life. The Census pegged the number of people who identified Marathi as their mother tongue in Mumbai at 44.04 lakh in 2011, down from 45.23 lakh in 2001.
Addressing the media, Thackeray alleged that Joshi’s comment reflected the hidden “agenda of the RSS and the BJP to divide Mumbai”. He said, “It has been a long time since they raked up the India-Pakistan issue… but it is ‘batenge toh katenge’. It’s not just a Marathi vs non-Marathi issue, but also Maratha vs non-Marathas and the formula to capture the state by them (BJP).”
Challenging Joshi to make such statements in Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala or West Bengal and return safely, Thackeray said, “Just because the ‘Marathi manoos’ are welcoming does not mean anyone can thrash them.”
Congress leader Nana Patole said the the RSS and BJP deliberately makes controversial remarks to divert the real issues in the ongoing Budget session. “The farmers are reeling under agrarian crisis. Why can’t the RSS give suggestions to the government on addressing problems of farmers. By raking up language controversy, they are diverting the main issues confronting the people and the state.”
NCP (SP) leader, Rohit Pawar said, “When such remarks come from the top RSS leadership, it gives grounds to question the motive behind undermining the importance of the state and its mother tongue.”
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