Amid Row Over 'Mumbai Has Many Languages' Remark, Bhaiyyaji Joshi Clarifies: 'Take Pride In Marathi'

The controversy comes after Joshi, while addressing a public event in Vile Parle, said that Mumbai does not have one language and that people coming to Mumbai don’t have to learn Marathi. 

File photo of RSS member Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi.

Source : PTI

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi has issued a clarification amid uproar over his "Mumbai has many languages" remark.

Amid the uproar over his remark, Bhaiyyaji Joshi on Thursday said that 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 said, a day after his remarks at an event in Mumbai’s Ghatkopar area invited strong criticism from the opposition Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Congress.

"Marathi is Maharashtra language and Mumbai’s language. There are no two opinions about it. People speaking many languages live in harmony in Mumbai, he said.

“It is expected that those coming from outside and speaking other languages should also understand Marathi,” Joshi said, adding his remarks at the Ghatkopar event were misconstrued.

The controversy comes after Joshi, while addressing a public event in Vile Parle, said that Mumbai does not have one language and that people coming to Mumbai don’t have to learn Marathi. 

"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," Joshi had said on Wednesday, triggering a controversy. 

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said in the state assembly that Marathi is the language of Mumbai and Maharashtra and anyone who lives here should learn and speak it.

"I haven't heard what Bhaiyyaji said, but the language of Mumbai and Maharashtra is Marathi. Everyone should learn Marathi and should speak the language," Fadnavis said.

Opposition Parties In Maharashtra Attack Bhaiyyaji Joshi's Remarks

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday demanded that Bhaiyyaji Joshi be booked for treason.  

Thackeray dared Joshi to make such statements in Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, West Bengal and come back safely.  

"Just because Marathi manoos is welcoming, does not mean anyone can hit him," he added.

"The BJP has no regards for Marathi manoos because it knows he is going to vote for them. This is a sadist mentality which has come to the fore. This is a ploy to break Mumbai," the Sena (UBT) leader claimed. 

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray said, "Constantly we see that we from Koshyari to Koratkar to Solapurkar - all of them have been insulting Maharashtra, Maharashtra's heroes and Maharashtra's gods. If you see Mr Koshyari, Mr Koratkar and Solapurkar - they have insulted Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Mahatma Jyotiba Phule and Savitribai Phule. Today, Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi has insulted Marathi. This will not be tolerated."

NCP (SP) MLA Jitendra Awhad said Bhaiyyaji Joshi has disrespected their mother and added that Mumbai is a place where whoever comes, it embraces it and one has to never turn back. 

"He (Bhaiyyaji Joshi) has disrespected our mother. He took one station's name and claimed that its language is Gujarati, but he does not understand Mumbai... Mumbai is a place, whoever comes here and embraces it never has to turn back... Earlier they used to divide in the name of caste, then religion, now it is language," Awhad said.