Mumbai, May 1 (IANS). Amid the growing debate over the mandatory use of Marathi language in Maharashtra, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday stressed that while it is important to be proud of one’s mother tongue, the state government will not tolerate violence or discrimination on the basis of language.
The Chief Minister said these things while talking to the media at Hutatma Chowk on the occasion of Maharashtra Day. Noting that every person living in the state should learn the local language, he strongly warned against the use of violence or intimidation in the name of linguistic pride.
The state government has made it mandatory for rickshaw pullers to speak Marathi and those who do not know it, to learn it. After which the rickshaw unions protested. Due to opposition from rickshaw unions, the government had to extend the compliance deadline till August.
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray raised the question that how can anyone have the ‘dare’ to refuse to speak Marathi? After which the matter took a political color. Raj Thackeray criticized the government’s leniency and suggested that permits of drivers who do not follow the rules should be canceled immediately.
Responding to Raj Thackeray, Chief Minister Fadnavis said Maharashtra has never been a ‘narrow-minded’ state. He said that Maharashtra never had such a mentality that migrants should not live here or only a few special people should live here. He said that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj has taught us that ‘Maharashtra Dharma’ does not support such boycott. I feel proud to see that my Marathi brothers are contributing to the culture and development of whatever state they live in across the country.
The Chief Minister said that every person living in Maharashtra should learn Marathi. He adopted a strict stance against coercion. He said the government intended to help residents learn the language. Chief Minister Fadnavis said Marathi is a ‘beautiful and simple’ language, which can be easily taught without resorting to any conflict or attack.
–IANS
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