A political firestorm has erupted in Maharashtra after MNS leader Raj Thackeray and BJP MP Nishikant Dubey engaged in an aggressive war of words over the Hindi vs Marathi language debate. Both leaders made controversial and threatening remarks, which have drawn criticism from across the political spectrum.
Raj Thackeray, reacting to Dubey’s earlier statement, warned,
“Mumbai ke samundar mein dubo dubo ke maarenge”
(We’ll thrash you repeatedly in Mumbai’s ocean).
Dubey, in turn, had earlier said,
“Marathi logo ko patak-patak ke marenge”
(We’ll thrash Marathi speakers mercilessly).
The exchange came in the wake of the Maharashtra government’s revocation of two GRs that had made Hindi compulsory as a third language in primary schools—following opposition protests.
🔥 Reactions Within the BJP Alliance:
Several BJP allies and opposition leaders condemned the toxic rhetoric:
- Shiv Sena leader Shaina NC said,
“This politics of hooliganism doesn’t work. We need constructive statements for a developed Maharashtra and India.” - BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar added,
“No one can drown or kill someone in the sea. We respect the Constitution. If someone tries it, the police will stop them.” - Congress leader Surendra Rajput slammed Dubey as “mentally unstable”, adding,
“He is endangering the safety of North Indians in Mumbai just to gain PM Modi’s attention.” - BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal called Raj Thackeray’s remarks “inflammatory” and said,
“He has no political hold left. That’s why he has joined hands with Uddhav Thackeray.”
🗣️ Raj Thackeray’s Full Speech:
In a fiery speech in Mumbai, Raj Thackeray declared,
“I will not compromise on Marathi. Those who live in Maharashtra must learn Marathi. Speak Marathi wherever you go.”
He also criticized the state leadership and BJP’s push for Hindi in schools:
“CM Fadnavis wants to make Hindi mandatory. Marathi should be made compulsory instead.”
He alleged that certain Gujarati businessmen had plans to “divide Mumbai from Maharashtra” and warned,
“If we stay silent, Hindi is just the beginning—they want to control everything and send it to Gujarat.”
🔁 Dubey Defends His Remarks:
Standing firm, Nishikant Dubey said,
“I stand by my words. I’m proud that Hindi is my mother tongue.”
He accused both Thackerays of “targeting migrants” and added,
“They are not royal elites. If they visit other states, people there will beat them.”
🗳️ What’s at Stake:
The row has intensified tensions within the BJP alliance ahead of crucial state elections. Analysts warn that such divisive language politics may alienate voters across linguistic and regional lines, potentially impacting BJP’s broader coalition strategy in Maharashtra.