Referring to the recent controversy surrounding the tomb of Aurangzeb, Thackeray said, “We should not destroy the structures of those who were defeated by Marathas" (Express Photo by Sankhadeep Banerjee)
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Sunday said that the party will not back down on “slapping” people residing in the state if they refuse to speak Marathi.
Addressing the party’s annual Gudhi Padwa rally at Shivaji Park in Central Mumbai, Thackeray said, “In our Mumbai, they tell us that they cannot speak Marathi… they will get a slap on the face. Don’t tell me about the country and all. Every state has its language and it must be respected. In Mumbai, Marathi should be respected.”
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“From tomorrow, check every bank, every establishment. Check whether Marathi is being used. All of you should stand firmly for Marathi,” said Thackeray, adding, “Look at Tamil Nadu. It dared to say no to Hindi. Even Kerala.”
Calling on people of Maharashtra to stop getting divided on the basis of caste, the MNS chief said that the rulers of the state are purposely dividing people on caste basis to neglect real issues.
“I appeal to the youngsters of Maharashtra to first stop reading history on WhatsApp and from the caste point of view. This is being done to politically divide you, stop you from coming together as Marathis… it diverts our attention and works like giving lands to Adani are done silently,” the MNS chief said, pointing out how industrialist Gautam Adani is running Mumbai airport, building Navi Mumbai airport and doing Dharavi redevelopment. “Adani turned out much cleverer than all of us,” he said.
Referring to the recent controversy surrounding the tomb of Aurangzeb, Thackeray said, “We should not destroy the structures of those who were defeated by Marathas. The world should know that we buried them.”
“How come everybody is suddenly remembering Aurangzeb? A Hindu who gets woken up by watching film is of no use. You can’t read History on WhatsApp, need to read books,” Thackery said, explaining that a 400-year-old history should not become a point of conflict in today’s era.
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Praising Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanth for taking action on loudspeakers, Thackeray said, “When I spoke about it, 17,000 workers faced action. Now CM Fadnavis says loudspeakers should not be used between 10 pm and 6 am. But the issue is about between 6 am and 10 pm. Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi took the action there, but our government has yet not.”
Referring to his statement on Kumbh Mela where he had ridiculed drinking the water from river Ganga, Thackeray said, “Those who felt I disrespected Kumbh Mela are fools… We call rivers our mother, goddess. It was former PM late Rajiv Gandhi who first gave a call to clean Ganga. This continues even in the tenure of Narendra Modi… I met a delegation recently, who told me that people fell ill after going to Kumbh Mela. It is not about disrespecting Ganga or Kumbh Mela, it is about the quality of water.”
Thackeray later showed a video on the pollution in river Ganga and its current condition, adding that Rs 33,000 crore have been spent on cleaning it but of no use.
“What type of religion is this? If our nature is getting destroyed, shouldn’t we change ourselves? Times have changed. Can’t there be different provision to conduct the last rites,” he said, adding that four out of five rivers in Mumbai are dead and the fifth Mithi is on the verge of dying.
Asking Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to work for the state following the massive mandate received, Thackeray said, “Devendra Fadnavis give proper attention to the state. If you have good intention, we will support you. We will support you, if you do everything after consulting to us.”
Alok Deshpande is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express' Mumbai bureau, recognized for his focused and authoritative reporting on governance, politics, and the socio-economic dynamics of Maharashtra's hinterlands. His unique academic background in Geology and early work in the water sector provides a specialized layer of Expertise to his reporting on resource and environmental issues.
Expertise
Current Role: Special Correspondent, The Indian Express, Mumbai.
Core Authority: Alok provides detailed coverage of Maharashtra politics and governance, with a particular emphasis on how policies and power struggles affect the rural and semi-urban areas (the 'hinterlands').
Key Coverage Areas: His reports frequently focus on high-stakes administrative and political topics, including:
State Assembly Proceedings: In-depth reporting on the Legislative Assembly, covering ministerial statements, legislative debates, and inter-party conflict within the ruling Mahayuti alliance.
Policy & Finance: Coverage of state finances, including supplementary budget demands, fiscal deficits, and major government schemes (e.g., Jal Jeevan Mission, Ladki Bahin Yojana).
Rural and Social Issues: Reports on critical health issues (e.g., child deaths in districts), human-animal conflict (leopard attacks, stray dogs), and agrarian concerns (e.g., farmer suicides).
Local and Urban Governance: Covers major announcements regarding urban development (e.g., BMC's OC amnesty scheme, pagdi system push) and local body elections, including political defections and alliance splits.
Unique Credentials & Trustworthiness
Academic Specialization: Holds a Post-graduate degree in Geology. This background gives him a foundational understanding of natural resources, which directly informs his reporting on environment, water, and infrastructure projects.
Early Professional Experience: His shift to journalism came after working with an NGO focused on the water sector. This practical experience strengthens his Expertise in critical areas like water management and rural development, as evidenced by his reporting on the Jal Jeevan Mission.
Journalism Training: An alumnus of the prestigious Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai, confirming his formal training and commitment to rigorous journalistic standards.
Alok Deshpande's rare combination of scientific education, non-profit sector experience, and deep political reporting makes him a highly trusted and authoritative voice on the governance and ground realities of Maharashtra.
He tweets @alokdesh ... Read More
