Mumbai: The controversy over Marathi language in Mumbai has intensified with Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray demanding a sedition case against RSS leader Bhaiyaji Joshi for his “Marathi not necessary to live in Mumbai” remark.

Speaking to media outside Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha in Mumbai, Uddhav Thackeray said, Joshi’s statement reveals BJP and RSS’ hidden agenda. He demanded a sedition case be filed against the RSS leader.

“Just as the Chief Minister said in the Legislative Council that Kortkar is a petty man, he should also say that Bhaiyyaji Joshi is a petty man. A case of sedition should be filed against Bhaiyyaji Joshi,” he said.

Earlier today, responding to the RSS leader’s statement, MLA Aaditya Thackeray stated, “Whether it’s Maharashtra’s language or Mumbai’s language, it is Marathi. Many people come to our state from different regions, settle here, and bring their dreams with them. They contribute, they grow, and everyone is welcome. But the language of this land, of Mumbai, of Maharashtra, is Marathi. Just as Tamil is the language of Tamil Nadu and Kannada is the language of Karnataka, I want to emphasize that Marathi is the language of Maharashtra…”

Meanwhile, after facing flak from INDIA bloc leaders, Bhaiyaji Joshi took a u-turn from his previous statement and said, “Marathi is Mumbai’s language, those coming from outside and speaking other languages should understand it.”

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has responded to the RSS leader’s remark in the state Assembly and made it clear that “Marathi is the language of Mumbai, Maharashtra and the state government.”

“The 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. The Marathi language will be respected and preserved in Maharashtra, and it is an integral part of our cultural heritage,” Maharashtra CM said.

The controversy over Marathi language ignited from RSS leader Bhaiyaji Joshi’s remark made in Mumbai’s Ghatkopar.

Addressing an event, RSS leader said,, “Mumbai doesn’t have a single language. Each part of Mumbai has a different language. The Ghatkopar area’s language is Gujarati. So if you are residing in Mumbai, it is not necessary that you have to learn Marathi.”

Mumbai, March 6: Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar on Thursday accepted three separate privilege motions filed by Minister of Rural Development and BJP leader Jaykumar Gore against Saamna executive editor and Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut, NCP(SP) Legislator Rohit Pawar and YouTube channel Laibhari and the journalist Tushar Kharat for defaming and maligning his image by making allegations in connection with a 2017 case.

The Speaker, in his ruling, said that considering the seriousness of the matter, he was referring all three privilege motions to the House Privileges Committee.

Earlier, the Minister said he resorted to this move after he was accused of sending obscene photos to a woman in 2017 and allegedly harassing her. He said the court had already acquitted him in 2019, and it was quite serious that the matter had been raked up after eight years to target him by making false allegations. Gore said that Raut had maligned his image and insulted the state Assembly. Therefore, he added that he is moving a privilege motion against him.”

Similarly, the Minister said that Rohit Pawar has also damaged his image by making baseless allegations.

The Minister, in his privilege motion against YouTube channel Laibhari and journalist Tushar Kharat, said the press and media are the fourth pillar of democracy, and while writing or showing some stories, they should maintain some standards.

Gore urged Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who was sitting in the state legislature, to hold a detailed inquiry into the matter. “If I am found guilty, I am prepared to face any action,” he told the House.

He referred to a representation made by someone to the Governor in this regard, saying that the government conducted the investigation, and it later came to light that the signatory of the representation has denied its signature in its confession to the Satara Superintendent of Police. He appealed to take the issue of submission of a fake letter as it was done with an intention to damage him and his family and demolish the leadership forever, which is quite dangerous.

“Some of the elected representatives, who are currently in the state Assembly and some outside the House, hatched a conspiracy against me after their loss in the state council elections. They lodged an offence against me. The issue was raked up again even as the ashes of father have yet to be immersed. They did not maintain any morality to wait for even 10 days after my father’s death but raised the eight-year-old issue now. This was to damage my leadership, and I rose to this position without any political background. I come from an ordinary family,” he said.

Mumbai, March 6: The opposition parties on Thursday staged a protest in the Maharashtra Assembly premises against two Ministers — Minister of State for Home Yogesh Kadam and Minister Jaykumar Gore — and also demanded their resignation from their respective posts.

The opposition has accused Minister Kadam of making an “insensitive” statement in the assault case of a 26-year-old woman inside a bus at the Pune bus depot and has alleged that Gore was involved in harassing a woman.

The opposition leaders, including Leader of Opposition in the state council Ambadas Danve, demanded the resignation of Kadam and Gore while accusing the state government of protecting the two.

Opposition took strong objection to Kadam’s statement that “in the incident that took place in the Shivshahi bus, there was no resistance from the victim. Since there was no resistance, no one suspected this.” Thereafter, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said Kadam’s statement was taken differently but added that “my advice to him is that we have to be more sensitive when speaking in such cases. If something goes wrong while speaking, it has a negative impact on the public mind.” Kadam also subsequently clarified.

As far as the BJP Minister Gore is concerned, the opposition claimed that he should resign or the chief minister should sack him from the cabinet for harassing a woman. Gore, on his part, clarified that the court had already given a judgment in 2019 and acquitted him.

The court had ordered the destruction of the seized material and mobile phone. He further said, “It has been six years since this court verdict. This case has come to light after six years. Political leaders should restrain on what to say at what time.”

Gore has announced that he would file defamation case and move privilege motion against those who are making allegations in this case despite his acquittal by the court.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut dared Gore to move a privilege motion. “Is he going to move the privilege motion against the woman who has filed a fresh complaint to the state Governor?” he asked.

He further said, “Even if the Minister says that he was jailed in this case, then how did Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis take him in the cabinet? Even after doing so much, now, after becoming a Minister, you are again harassing that woman who will be sitting on a hunger strike in front of the Vidhan Bhavan from March 17.”

Raut demanded that the CM should immediately take Gore’s resignation. “I have spoken to the woman who has said that she will commit suicide if she is not freed from such harassment,” said Raut.