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Maharashtra

Opposition Demands Action Against Senior RSS Leader Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi For His ‘Learning Marathi Not Necessary In Mumbai’ Statement

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Mumbai: Senior RSS leader Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi ignited a political controversy with his statement, “If you are residing in Mumbai, it is not necessary that you have to learn Marathi.” In a state where Marathi is regarded both as symbol of cultural and political identity, his statement raised political tempers leading to chaotic scenes in the state legislature on Thursday as the opposition parties tried to put the state government on the mat, demanding action against Joshi.

Such were the barbs by the Shiv Sena UBT, MNS, Congress and the NCP that the BJP-led Mahayuti government led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule vouched allegiance to Marathi, the state language. It also forced Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi to backtrack somewhat saying Marathi is Mumbai’s language and those coming from outside and speaking other languages should also understand it.

“Marathi is my native language and I take pride in it,” Joshi clarified, adding his remarks at the Ghatkopar event made on Wednesday which led to the controversy had been misconstrued. At an event in Ghatkopar on Wednesday, Joshi said, “Mumbai doesn’t have a single language. Each part of Mumbai has a different language. Ghatkopar area’s language is Gujarati. So if you are residing in Mumbai, it is not necessary that you have to learn Marathi.”

The Opposition pounced on the remark and raised a ruckus in both the houses of the state legislature pointing out that the state government has recently mandated the use of Marathi in various sectors and celebrated Marathi Bhasha Gaurav Din with great enthusiasm on February 27.

Responding to the demands by the Opposition leaders for clarity on the issue, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis reaffirmed that Marathi is the language of Mumbai and Maharashtra. He insisted that everyone residing in the state should learn Marathi while also respecting other languages spoken by different communities. Fadnavis clarified that the government had no objection if individuals from other states conversed in their native languages but maintained that Marathi held a special status in Maharashtra.

Top leaders from the opposition parties, including Uddhav Thackeray lashed out over the statement. Shiv Sena UBT Chief Uddhav Thackeray demanded Joshi should be booked for treason. He accused the BJP following a “divide and rule” policy. He alleged that the party had previously divided people along caste lines and was now attempting to do the same through language.

Thackeray even likened Joshi to Anaji Pant, a historical figure who betrayed Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj to the Mughals. Thackeray challenged Joshi to make similar statements in states like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, or West Bengal and see if he could return safely thereafter. He also demanded that Fadnavis take a firm stand against Joshi, just as he had labelled Prashant Koratkar a “chillar” (insignificant) person.

Thackeray urged the government to either take action against Joshi or admit that undermining Marathi in Mumbai was part of the BJP-RSS agenda. As protests intensified, BJP leaders attempted to control the narrative. State BJP President Chandrashekhar Bawankule clarified in the Legislative Council that the government remained committed to Marathi as the official language of Maharashtra.

In the Council, MLC Anil Parab slammed the government for not condemning Joshi’s statement. He wanted to know whether Ghatkopar, a predominantly Gujarati-speaking area, had no Marathi speaker and demanded that Joshi apologize to the Marathi-speaking population of Mumbai.

Maharashtra

Mumbai: Ahead of Diwali, citizens beam with smiles… Goods worth over 1 crore returned, police performance praised, and people in a joyous mood.

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Mumbai: Mumbai Police has brought back the happiness of the citizens before Diwali by returning their lost and stolen goods and spreading smiles on their faces. DCP Manish Kalwaniya in Zone 8 of Mumbai has today returned the lost and other belongings of the citizens before Diwali, worth more than one crore, including 2000 mobile phones. The DCP said that the people’s joy has doubled after the return of stolen and lost goods because most of them had given up hope of their belongings, but the police have brought smiles back to their faces. Mumbai Police has started a process of returning people’s belongings at various police stations. This process has been started on the initiative of Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti. After the return of stolen and lost goods, the trust of the people in the police in Mumbai has been further strengthened and now the police is performing better in such cases in which people’s belongings have been stolen or have disappeared. The police have now brought smiles to the faces of many people who had forgotten their belongings or did not expect that their belongings would be available to them again.

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Maharashtra

Mumbai: Jains Donate ₹1.38 Crore To 141 Flood-Hit Gaushalas Across Maharashtra

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In a remarkable act of compassion, the Jain community in Mumbai distributed ₹1.38 crore to 141 gaushalas across Maharashtra that were affected by recent floods.

According to Paresh Shah, a member of the Maharashtra Goseva Aayog, the donations will help the gaushalas purchase fodder and essential supplies for their cattle. Each gaushala received ₹50,000 as part of the relief distribution.

The contribution was made during the ‘Jivdaya Mahotsav’, held on Sunday at a Jain temple in Chinchpokli. Of the total amount, the Sheth Damji Lakshmichand Charitable Trust contributed ₹63 lakh. The community also launched a ₹27-lakh animal ambulance to aid animal welfare initiatives in Mumbai.

The event was graced by Shaina N C, national spokesperson of the Shiv Sena, as the chief guest, and Girishbhai Shah from the Animal Welfare Board of India.

Notable donors included the Deepakbhai Bheda family and the Diyodar Jain Sangh, each contributing ₹11 lakh.

Organisers said the initiative reflects the Jain community’s commitment to ‘Jivdaya’ (compassion for all living beings) and aims to support animal shelters struggling after the floods.

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Maharashtra

Mumbai: Harassment of ordinary Muslims in the name of Bangladeshis should stop, Abu Asim makes serious allegations against the government over Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement

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abu azmi

Mumbai: Maharashtra Samajwadi Party leader Worker Assembly Abu Asim Azmi criticized the statement of Home Minister Amit Shah and said that it is the responsibility of the Home Minister and the Central Government to take action against Bangladeshi and Pakistani infiltrators. The population of Muslims in India has increased due to Bangladeshis. This is completely wrong. The residents of West Bengal and ordinary Muslims are being targeted under the guise of Bangladeshi and Pakistanis. He said that the government is yours in many states and at the center, so how do Bangladeshi infiltrators enter from the border? What action has the government taken against those who forge their documents so far? He said that targeting Muslims under the guise of Bangladeshi should be stopped, just as Karat Soumya is trying to fake the certificates and documents of every Muslim and is targeting Muslims. He said that the government should pay attention to how Bangladeshi infiltrators infiltrate from the Indian border. This is not the job of Congress, SP or other parties. It is the job of the government to take action against Bangladeshi and Pakistanis and to bring them to justice. But Muslims should not be harassed or disturbed. He said that action is being taken against those officers who are preparing documents for Bangladeshis.

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