Mumbai’s Language is Marathi: Maha CM on RSS Leader’s Remarks
In a recent controversy, the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis, has weighed in on the comments made by RSS leader Bhaiyyaji Joshi, sparking a heated debate about the language spoken in Mumbai. The row began when Joshi said that knowing Marathi was not necessary to live in Mumbai, which led to widespread criticism from the opposition parties. Fadnavis, in his response, emphasized the importance of Marathi as the language of the city and the state government.
The controversy started when Joshi, the RSS’s joint general secretary, made the remark at an event in Nagpur. He said, “If someone comes to Mumbai and wants to live here, they don’t need to know Marathi. They can communicate in Hindi, English, or any other language.” Joshi’s statement was met with strong opposition from various quarters, with many questioning the RSS leader’s understanding of the city’s linguistic culture.
The opposition parties, including the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Congress, were quick to condemn Joshi’s remarks. NCP leader and former Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Prithviraj Chavan, termed Joshi’s statement as “pathetic” and argued that Marathi was an integral part of Mumbai’s identity. Chavan said, “Mumbai is not just a city, it’s a cultural and linguistic melting pot. Marathi is an essential part of our identity, and it’s not just a language, it’s a way of life.”
The Congress party also criticized Joshi’s statement, with its spokesperson, Sachin Sawant, saying that the RSS leader’s remark was “divisive” and “unpatriotic”. Sawant added, “Marathi is the soul of Mumbai, and it’s not just a language, it’s a symbol of our cultural heritage.”
In the midst of this controversy, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis intervened, saying that Marathi was the language of the city and the state government. Fadnavis stated, “In Mumbai, Maharashtra, and the state government’s language is Marathi, and people who live here should learn it.” The Chief Minister’s statement was seen as a strong endorsement of the importance of Marathi in Mumbai.
Fadnavis’s statement has been hailed by many as a strong reaffirmation of the city’s linguistic identity. The Chief Minister’s emphasis on Marathi as the language of the city and the state government is seen as a step towards promoting the language and preserving its cultural significance.
The controversy surrounding Joshi’s remark has also highlighted the complex linguistic landscape of Mumbai. The city is home to people from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds, and Marathi is just one of the many languages spoken in the city. However, Marathi is an official language of the state and is widely spoken by the majority of the population.
The debate about the importance of Marathi in Mumbai is not new. In recent years, there have been efforts to promote the language and make it more accessible to people from diverse backgrounds. The state government has launched several initiatives to promote Marathi, including the introduction of Marathi language classes in schools and the implementation of Marathi as the medium of instruction in government offices.
In conclusion, the controversy surrounding Joshi’s remark has highlighted the importance of Marathi in Mumbai. The Chief Minister’s statement has reaffirmed the city’s linguistic identity and emphasized the need for people to learn Marathi. As the city continues to grow and evolve, it is essential to preserve and promote its linguistic and cultural heritage.
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