MNS, Sena criticise the Samajwadi Party MP Actor-turned-politician Jaya Bachchan is famous for not mincing her words and speaking her mind. Now, the Samajwadi Party MP has stirred another controversy by asserting her love for Hindi.
At the music release function for AB junior’s film Drona on Saturday night, Bachchan in her characteristic “Guddi” style took potshots at her rivals, evoking sharp reactions from both the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and Shiv Sena.
She said, “Hum toh Hindi mein bolna pasand karenge. Hum toh UPwalle hain. Mumbaiwalle humein maaf karein.” When translated it means, “I would like to speak in Hindi since I am an UPite. Mumbaikars please forgive me.”
However, these ostensibly innocent remarks from the actor has upset Thackeray junior, who has been barred from making public speeches till the end of this month.
Describing these statements as unfortunate, MNS leaders argued that if living in Mumbai she didn’t respect Marathi then it was an insult to the people of Maharashtra. They further said that she owed an apology to the people of Maharashtra.
The Shiv Sena, who had crossed swords with Raj Thackeray for questioning Amitabh Bachchan’s loyalty towards Mumbai in the past, has also joined hands with MNS to criticise Bachchan.
Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut said, “Why should anybody undermine the Marathi language in Maharashtra? Moreover, there is no need for her to promote Hindi in Mumbai. It would serve the purpose better if she campaigns for the language in southern states.”
Sensing the Marathi versus North Indian divide, Congress leaders are now trying to restore a balance. The Mumbai Regional Congress Committee (MRCC) chief Kripa Shankar, originally from UP, said, “Every state has its own language and culture which everybody should learn to respect. I feel people who live in Mumbai or the rest of state should speak in Marathi.”
