BJP MP Nishikant Dubey(L), Uddhav and Raj Thackeray.
Credit: PTI Photos
Mumbai: The ongoing Hindi-Marathi row took a new turn with BJP MP Nishikant Dubey daring Thackeray cousins Uddhav and Raj to come out of Maharashtra and visit Uttar Pradesh, Bihar or Tamil Nadu and face the music in retaliation of attacks on migrant workers in Mumbai and its suburbs.
Dubey, a BJP MP from Godda in Jharkhand, is considered close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
The development took place on Monday, a couple of days after Uddhav, the Shiv Sena (UBT) head and former chief minister and his cousin Raj, the MNS president, shared dais and addressed a joint rally after 20 years. The
Thackerays were celebrating the BJP-led Maha Yuti government withdrawing two GRs which aimed at introducing Hindi in primary English and Marathi medium schools under the three-language policy of the New Education Policy.
“You people are surviving on our money. What kind of industries do you have?….Tatas, Birlas and Ambanis do business here…if you are brave enough to beat Hindi speakers, then you should also have guts to hit those who speak Urdu, Tamil, and Telugu."
“If you are such a ‘big boss’, step out of Maharashtra and come to Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, or Tamil Nadu….’tumko patak patak ke maarenge’ (we will thrash you),” Dubey said in a direct challenge to the Thackeray cousins.
“We all respect Marathi and the people of Maharashtra…we respect Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj, the Peshwas, Tatya Tope…all who fought for India’s independence…Lokmanya Tilak, Gopal Krishna Gokhale,” he said adding that since the BMC elections are approaching, the duo of Uddhav-Raj are indulging in such cheap politics. “If they have the courage, they should go to Mahim and beat Hindi or Urdu speakers in front of the Mahim Dargah…only they they can claim to be heirs of late Balasaheb Thackeray,” he further remarked.
Dubey’s comments came a day after state cultural affairs minister and Mumbai BJP president Ashish Shelar comparing the attack on migrants to the Pahalgam terror attack, when the terrorists asked the religious identity and shot people.
As Dubey’s comments went viral, Uddhav and other leaders of the Maha Vikas Aghadi, reacted sharply, however, Raj has not reacted so far.
“This is not the BJP we know… The original BJP which was in alliance with the (undivided) Shiv Sena has been killed by the present leaders,” Uddhav said, adding: “Who knows this Nishikant Dubey….”.
“They have gone to such an extent that they are comparing Marathis with the terrorists of the Pahalgam incident. They could not save the Hindus there, now they are siding with those perpetrating injustice to Marathi. These (leaders) are the real ‘killers’ of Marathi,” Thackeray said, hitting out at Shelar.
Thackeray also dismissed chief minister Devendra Fadnavis’ reactions that the Saturday coming together of Uddhav-Raj was a gathering of ‘rudaalis’ terming it as an outcome of ‘deranged mentality’.
RSS distances itself from controversy
On the language row, RSS’ all India publicity chief Sunil Ambekar said that the Sangh’s position is very clear on this issue. “RSS has always maintained that all Indian languages are national languages. People speak the language prevalent in their region, and primary education should be imparted in that language,” he said.
Nirahua too joins debate
Former BJP MP and Bhojpuri film industry star Dinesh Lal Yadav, popularly known as Nirahua, too joined the debate slamming the Thackeray cousins. "I am giving an open challenge. I do not speak Marathi. I speak Bhojpuri, and I am staying in Maharashtra. Why are you driving poor people out? If you have the courage, then drive me out. I am giving you a challenge, even in Mumbai," he said.
Reacting to it, NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar said: “He is staying in Maharashtra and challenging Marathi people. We will not take it lightly. This is being done by the BJP eyeing the Bihar elections…During Lok Sabha, they will do Hindu-Muslim, in Maharashtra polls, they will do OBC-Maratha and Bihar polls it is Marathi-Hindi."
Pappu Yadav challenges Raj
Bihar MP Rajesh Ranjan, popularly known as Pappu Yadav, said the will take away the arrogance of Raj Thackeray. “Raj Thackeray's people are attacking Hindi-speaking people in Maharashtra. I challenge Raj Thackeray to stop this hooliganism, otherwise I will come to Mumbai and take away his arrogance!” According to him, the regional identity of every state is respected, but if anyone attacks the people of Bihar in the name of that, we will not take it easily.