Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], April 2 : Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has stated that while there is nothing wrong with agitating for the promotion of the Marathi language in Maharashtra, it should remain within the bounds of the law.
Fadnavis further warned that any individual or group resorting to unlawful actions would face appropriate legal consequences.
"There is nothing wrong with agitating for Marathi in Maharashtra. Even the government believes that the use of Marathi should be promoted. But if someone takes law in their hands, action needs to be taken against them...," said Fadnavis.
His statement comes in the wake of an incident in which a security guard was allegedly assaulted by MNS workers for allegedly disrespecting the Marathi language.
Notably, a video of a security guard allegedly disrespecting the Marathi language has gone viral on social media after which ahe was assaulted
Earlier as well a controversy has broken out over language in the state when RSS Senior leader Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi, said that those coming to Mumbai need not learn Marathi. He also said that Gujarati is the "language of the Ghatkopar area in Mumbai."
Later, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde clarified and said that Marathi is "our first language" in the state.
"Bhaiyyaji Joshi has given clarification on what he said. I also say that Marathi is our first language in Maharashtra...He (Prime Minister Modi) has given Marathi the status of a Classical language...People from the opposition who were putting up posters in other languages are now doing politics. This is unfortunate ...", Shinde told ANI.
RSS leader Bhaiyyaji Joshi later also clarified that his remarks were misconstrued, emphasizing that Marathi remains the language of Maharashtra and Mumbai. "A misunderstanding has occurred due to one of my statements. There is no question that Mumbai's language is not Marathi. Mumbai is in Maharashtra, and naturally, its language is Marathi. However, people from different linguistic backgrounds live here, and it is a natural expectation that they should learn, understand, and read Marathi," the RSS leader told ANI.