Maharashtra: BJP leader condemns assault on Hindi-speaking people, draws parallel with Pahalgam attack

Shelar asserted that the BJP, being the largest party in Maharashtra, would safeguard the pride of Marathi people while also protecting non-Marathi residents.

Mumbai: Amid cases of attacks on migrants for not speaking in Marathi vis-a-vis the language row in Maharashtra, senior BJP leader and state’s cultural affairs minister Ashish Shelar on Sunday likened such incidents to the Pahalgam terror attack as he slammed the Thackeray cousins for distorting facts with a purpose to gain political mileage.

The statement comes days after Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who also holds the home portfolio, said that he would not tolerate “goondagiri” on the issue of language after incidents of manhandling by workers of Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) and Raj Thackeray-led MNS came to light.

“During the Pahalgam terror attack, people were asked their religion and on finding that they were Hindus they were shot. Here, (in Mumbai) they beat up innocent Hindus just because of the language they speak…such things create disturbance…It is disappointing, it is disgusting…it is very painful,” said Shelar, who is the Mumbai BIP president.

Shelar pointed out that nearly 22 states in the country have either accepted the three-language policy or rolled it out.

The statement of Shelar comes after Saturday’s joint Raj-Uddhav rally meant to celebrate the government’s rollback of the two government resolutions vis-a-vis the three-language formula which aimed to introduce Hindi in primary schools of Marathi and English medium in the state.

Reacting to the rally, Shelar said: “The joint event and speeches could be seen as incomplete, with one speech being unclear and another being irrelevant. The entire event was unrealistic. While one of them tried to speak on the cause of Marathi, the facts were distorted. Their arguments were misleading and can be countered point by point…Uddhav's speech was irrelevant, full of regret and uneasiness over the loss of power. Raj's speech was incomplete and diverted from the real issue. Both leaders appeared driven by fear ahead of the municipal elections. Their speeches resembled those of people scared to walk in the dark.”

Thackeray said that the Thackerays were okay with their children getting education in schools teaching three languages but they opposed it when others were getting similar opportunities.

"He (Uddhav) first aligned with the BJP to gain power in the state and the BMC… When he realised he could become chief minister, he joined hands with the (then undivided) NCP and Congress (Democratic Front). Now, to retain power in the BMC, he is trying to woo the MNS," said Shelar.

On the personal attacks by Uddhav on Fadnavis, he said: “Even we can make personal comments to criticise them. But do they have any decency in public discourse?" "People use foul or casteist language only when they have no valid arguments. If we start speaking in that language, they would not be able to take it.” Besides, he said that it was Fadnavis who resolved the issue. “Had there been honesty in their arguments, they would have congratulated Fadnavis. He was the one who removed the word 'mandatory' from the initial GR and then withdrew both GRs to avoid confusion,” said Shelar.

Athawale backs Shelar

Describing as improper, the attack on migrants not knowing Marathi, union minister of state for social justice and empowerment Ramdas Athawale came out in support of Shelar. “Shelar is a prominent leader of the BJP. He truly said that terrorists killed tourists in Pahalgam by asking about their religion. Similarly, the Raj Thackeray's party's workers beat people by going to vendors, people and by asking them to speak Marathi,” said Athawale, a prominent Dalit leader and president of Republic Party of India (A).