Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has reaffirmed that Marathi is the official language of Mumbai and the state, amid controversy sparked by RSS leader Bhaiyyaji Joshi’s recent remarks suggesting that it is not necessary for people to learn Marathi when coming to Mumbai.
Speaking in the Maharashtra Assembly, Fadnavis stated, “In Mumbai, Maharashtra, and the State government’s language is Marathi, and people who live here should learn it.” He emphasized that Marathi is an integral part of the state’s culture and identity and that it is the responsibility of every citizen to learn and respect the language.
The debate over the Marathi language intensified during the Assembly session, leading to a brief adjournment after heated exchanges between the ruling BJP and Shiv Sena (UBT). The dispute was ignited by Joshi’s statement at an event in Mumbai, where he said, “It is not necessary for everyone to know Marathi,” sparking strong reactions across the political spectrum.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Bhaskar Jadhav raised the issue in the Assembly, asking about the state government’s position on the matter. Fadnavis responded firmly, asserting that the state’s position is clear: Marathi is the primary language of Maharashtra, and every resident should learn it. He also stated that there would be no compromise on the state’s language policy.
Fadnavis further stressed that the Marathi language is an essential part of Maharashtra’s cultural heritage and urged all citizens to respect and adopt Marathi in their daily lives.
In response to Joshi’s remarks, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aditya Thackeray declared that Marathi will remain the language of the state, citing it as an undeniable part of Maharashtra’s identity. He criticized the BJP’s stance, claiming that the party’s actions, such as halting the Marathi Bhasha Bhavan project in Mumbai, were attempts to undermine the importance of the language. Thackeray likened the situation to Tamil Nadu’s commitment to Tamil and Karnataka’s commitment to Kannada, asserting that the language of Mumbai, specifically, is Marathi.
The controversy highlights the ongoing linguistic and cultural tensions in Maharashtra, with political leaders taking strong stances on the preservation and promotion of the Marathi language.