‘In Mumbai, Gujarati will do the job, not Marathi’, Shiv Sena-NCP furious over Bhaiyaji Joshi’s statement

Mumbai: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh leader Suresh Bhaiyaji Joshi has given an important statement in Mumbai, Maharashtra. Talking about Marathi, Bhaiyaji Joshi said, ‘Mumbai does not have a single language. Therefore, there is no need to learn Marathi to come to Mumbai. Gujarati will do the job here.’ Shiv Sena and NCP are furious over this statement of the RSS leader.

Bhaiyaji Joshi said, ‘There is not one language in Mumbai, but many languages. Every part of Mumbai has its own language. The language of Ghatkopar area is Gujarati. Therefore, if you live in Mumbai or want to come here, then it is not necessary that you have to learn Marathi.’

Shiv Sena leader and MLA Aditya Thackeray has opposed this statement of the RSS leader. Thackeray said, ‘Be it Mumbai or Maharashtra, the first language of our land is Marathi. Marathi is our pride like Tamil in Tamil Nadu or any other state. Bhaiyaji Joshi has described Gujarati as the language of Ghatkopar. But this is unacceptable. Marathi is the language of our Mumbai.’

NCP MLA Jitendra Awhad has also reacted to the statement of the RSS leader. He said, ‘Kem Cho, Kem Cho’ seems like this is the only thing that will be heard in Mumbai now. Bhaiyaji Joshi is trying to divide Mumbai on the issue of language.’

Amid the debate on Marathi language, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has also given a statement on this issue. He said in the assembly, ‘Marathi is the language of Mumbai, Maharashtra and the state government. People living here should learn it. Marathi language is a part of the culture and identity of the state and it should be the duty of every citizen to learn it.’