Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' acknowledgment of the contribution of its North Indian immigrants in Mumbai's growth has attracted the ire of MNS, which reacted sharply and said that Maharashtra or Mumbai does not need any outsider to make it great.
The MNS has also said that on the eve of Gujarat Assembly elections, Fadnavis should be felicitated with Bhayya Bhushan award for his appeasement of North Indians. Interestingly, Shiv Sena leaders, who otherwise invite the media for comment on such issues, has not yet reacted to the CM's remark. Fadnavis on Wednesday was inaugurating the plaque after naming a chowk at Ghatkopar after educationist YD Singh.
Minister for Housing Prakash Maheta, Minister of state Vidya Thakur were also present at the event.
Without naming MNS or Shiv Sena, while addressing the gathering Fadnavis had said, "Languages are meant for uniting people and not dividing them, but some people, for the sake of politics, make divisions on the basis of language. Language can't be an issue of controversy and while we are proud of Marathi culture, but North Indian culture has assimilated itself with Maharashtrian culture." Fadnavis then talked about North Indians being targeted in Mumbai and said, "Since our government is capable, it is acting before the complaint and is taking timely action against such people."
Former MNS MLA Nitin Sardesai criticised Fadnavis and said, "Maharashtra and Mumbai have a glorious past and has been prosperous as well as has its own glory, even before these outsiders came here. Mumbai or Maharashtra does not need North Indians, or for that matter any outsider, to make it what it is today."
Sardesai said that Fadnavis is following Congress' suit to attract the North Indian vote on the eve of Gujarat elections, adding that he is proof the BJP is no more a party with a difference, since it is copying Congress. Sardesai said that those who are in power do not fulfil their responsibility and that is the reason MNS has to take up these issues.
