New Delhi: Amidst the ongoing language row in Maharashtra, state Congress President Harshwardhan Sapkal hit out at the BJP and alleged that they were trying to polarise the language.

Harshwardhan Sapkal said, “The BJP keeps cursing the word secularism every day. Secularism is a necessity for the country and its culture. Secularism is not only used for language but also equality and caste. States also use secularism. Secularism is used for language also. BJP has no concern about secularism so they are trying to create rift in between 22 languages in the country. Unity in Diversity has a direct connection with secularism, and both concepts are related to language and culture. They have already caused polarisation based on caste and religion. Now they are trying to polarise language as well.”

He further said that the BJP believes in one country, one leader, one religion, one language and before this, the BJP has created a rift in religion and caste.

Earlier, addressing the issue of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) workers being detained in Mumbai, Aaditya Thackeray on Tuesday stated that everyone has the right to protest in the country.

“Everyone has the right to protest. We don’t know why the BJP is anti-Maharashtra and anti-Marathi, and why people were arrested last night. There was a peaceful protest. They should have allowed it. Everyone has the right to protest”, he said.

Aaditya Thackeray noted that the BJP is trying to spread “hatred” and create conflicts between “Marathi and non-Marathi people,” he said.

He further stated that the “BJP’s divisive agenda,” ahead of the BMC and Bihar elections, would not succeed.

“The BJP is trying to spread hatred in Maharashtra and create conflicts between Marathi and non-Marathi people. Their agenda won’t work. Their agenda for the Bihar and BMC elections is to create division. This is the BJP’s tactic, and it won’t succeed”, he said.

Mumbai: Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Gaikwad punches canteen staff over stale food “The food was stale, I vomited after smelling it and taking the first bite,” said Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) MLA Sanjay Gaikwad, defending his assault on a canteen staffer at the MLA Hostel in Mumbai.

The video of the incident, which has surfaced on social media, showed the Maharashtra lawmaker calling people and asking them to smell the food packet in the canteen. The heated confrontation soon led to physical violence.

MLA’s Reaction To Backlash

Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Gaikwad expressed his frustration over the poor food quality at the Akashwani canteen, where he has been a patron for 30 years. He highlighted complaints about stale and unhygienic food, including 15-day-old eggs and non-vegetarian items, and the presence of insects and dirt.

After experiencing bad food himself, he insisted that others confirm its staleness, which they did. Gaikwad stressed the importance of serving clean and healthy food, labeling current conditions a health hazard. He lamented the lack of action from the government despite numerous complaints and urged for a check on the canteen’s kitchen, voicing concern for the health of the 5,000-10,000 patrons who rely on the service.

‘I Will Do It Again…’: Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Gaikwad

When asked about assaulting the canteen staff, Gaikwad said that the food was in the worst condition and that he would hit the canteen staff again for a similar service. “Natural meri jo reaction thi ki agar aap Hindi mein samajhte nahi ho, Marathi mein samajhte nahi ho, angreji (English) mein samjhte nahi ho toh aakhir mein humara Shiv Sene ka style humara phir asal rehta hi hai”, MLA stated this conversation

“Meri bhasha aakhir mein ye rehti hain” said Gaikwad in response to the incident. The incident took place at the Akashvani MLA canteen in Churchgate, where several legislators are staying during the Monsoon Session of the Maharashtra Assembly.

The incident comes amid ongoing political friction between the MNS and the Mahayuti government, led by the BJP, over the MNS’s aggressive campaign promoting the use of Marathi among residents of the state.

Mumbai: NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar on Wednesday demanded that the Maharashtra government take immediate action to resolve the ongoing protest here by teachers of aided and partially aided schools from across the state.

He was speaking to reporters after meeting the protesting teachers at Azad Maidan in south Mumbai.

The teachers from aided and partially aided schools have launched an agitation claiming that the government has not increased grants to their institutes despite announcements. Also, whatever grants they receive now are being released in instalments, which hampers the management of their schools, they have said.

“The state should not waste more than a day issuing the order (resolving their issues). I have worked in various legislative houses for the last 56 years. I am aware of how decisions are made,” said Pawar.

The NCP (SP) chief was accompanied by Lok Sabha member Nilesh Lanke and MLA Rohit Pawar.

He criticised the practice of releasing grants in batches. “Without real financial allocation, issuing orders means nothing. They should be thrown into the dustbin. The government cannot shy away from its responsibilities,” Pawar said.

The teachers have been protesting for the past four days, coinciding with the monsoon session of the state legislature.

“Be it government or semi-government, workers are important. Teachers provide knowledge to society. It is the responsibility of the state government to give these people an opportunity to live a respectful and dignified life,” he said.

Stressing that teachers shape the new generation, Pawar said it does not look good for Maharashtra that they must sit in the rains to protest for their “rightful” demands.