Neither Hindi nor Marathi, Uddhav & Raj just love family: BJP
The recent joint rally of Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and MNS president Raj Thackeray in Mumbai, celebrating the Maharashtra government’s decision to rollback the three-language policy, has sparked a fresh round of political rhetoric. While the two leaders hailed the move as a victory for the state’s regional language, Marathi, their opponents in the BJP have accused them of using the issue for political gains.
Reacting to the joint rally, BJP leader Gaurav Vallabh lashed out at the two Thackeray brothers, stating that they had come together “due to political compulsion”. Vallabh, a member of the BJP’s National Executive, took to social media to express his views, saying, “Stop hiding behind Hindi and Marathi. You neither love Marathi nor Hindi, you just love your family.”
The BJP leader’s comments have been seen as a veiled attack on the Thackeray brothers, who have long been known for their strong love for Marathi and their advocacy for the state’s regional language. However, Vallabh’s barb has also been seen as an attempt to undermine the credibility of the two leaders, who are known for their strong emotional connect with the people of Maharashtra.
The three-language policy, which was introduced by the Maharashtra government earlier this year, had sparked widespread controversy. The policy, which aimed to make Hindi, Marathi, and English compulsory subjects in schools, was seen as an attempt to undermine the importance of Marathi, the state’s official language.
The Thackeray brothers, who have long been champions of the Marathi language and culture, had been vocal in their opposition to the policy. They had argued that the policy would lead to the decline of Marathi, and that the state’s cultural identity would be lost. Their opposition to the policy had been seen as a move to protect the interests of the Marathi-speaking people, who are a significant majority in the state.
However, the BJP has accused the Thackeray brothers of using the issue for political gains. Vallabh’s comments, which were seen as an attempt to belittle the Thackeray brothers’ love for Marathi, have been seen as a last-ditch effort to undermine their credibility.
The BJP’s criticism of the Thackeray brothers has been seen as an attempt to play the Marathi-Hindi card, which has been a sensitive issue in Maharashtra politics for decades. The party has long been known for its pro-Hindi stance, and its leaders have often been accused of trying to impose Hindi on the people of the state.
However, the Thackeray brothers have always maintained that they are not against Hindi, but rather against the forced imposition of the language on the people of Maharashtra. They have argued that Marathi is the state’s official language, and that it should be given equal importance.
The recent controversy over the three-language policy has brought the issue to the fore, and the Thackeray brothers have used the opportunity to reiterate their commitment to the Marathi language and culture. Their joint rally, which was attended by thousands of people, was seen as a show of strength and a demonstration of their popularity.
The BJP, on the other hand, has been trying to use the issue to its advantage. The party has accused the Thackeray brothers of being anti-Hindi, and has tried to portray them as being against the interests of the people of Maharashtra.
However, the Thackeray brothers have remained unfazed, and have continued to emphasize their commitment to the Marathi language and culture. Their joint rally, which was seen as a show of strength, has been seen as a demonstration of their ability to bring people together, despite their differences.
In conclusion, the controversy over the three-language policy has brought the issue of Marathi-Hindi relations to the fore, and has sparked a fresh round of political rhetoric. While the Thackeray brothers have remained committed to the Marathi language and culture, the BJP has tried to use the issue to its advantage. The controversy is likely to continue, and it remains to be seen how the two sides will resolve their differences.
