I don’t speak Marathi, drive me out if you can: Bhojpuri actor Nirahua dares Thackeray cousins
Mumbai: Amid ongoing tensions over language in Maharashtra, Bhojpuri actor and BJP MP Dinesh Lal Yadav, popularly known as Nirahua, has thrown a direct challenge to the Thackeray cousins. Responding to the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena's (MNS) actions targeting non-Marathi speakers, Nirahua told reporters, “I do not speak Marathi. I speak Bhojpuri and live in Maharashtra. If you have the courage, try and drive me out.”
The remark follows a series of attacks allegedly by MNS workers on individuals for not speaking Marathi, including the recent assault on a sweet shop owner in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
The controversy comes ahead of civic polls, with tensions rising after MNS workers vandalised the office of share market investor Sushil Kedia in Worli. Kedia had publicly declared that he would not speak Marathi and challenged MNS chief Raj Thackeray.
Meanwhile, BJP leader and Maharashtra minister Ashish Shelar compared the attacks on Hindi-speaking people to the Pahalgam terror attack, stating that in both cases, individuals were targeted based on identity. He criticised the MNS and Shiv Sena (UBT), saying they are using Marathi pride for political gains.
The language row intensified after Uddhav and Raj Thackeray shared the stage after two decades, protesting against the introduction of Hindi as a third language in primary schools—a move recently withdrawn by the state government.
Reacting to the development, Shiv Sena MLA and state minister Pratap Sarnaik credited Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde for securing classical language status for Marathi and alleged that the alliance between Sena (UBT) and MNS is aimed at regaining control over the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.
Shelar also claimed the ruling Mahayuti would outperform the opposition in the upcoming civic elections, asserting that Marathi is not a political issue for the BJP.
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Rickelton's ton in vain as SRH beat MI by 6 wickets
Mumbai (PTI): Ryan Rickelton's whirlwind unbeaten ton was overshadowed by Heinrich Klaasen's unbeaten 65 as Sunrisers Hyderabad defeated Mumbai Indians by six wickets in an IPL match here on Wednesday.
Chasing an imposing 244-run target, Travis Head (76 off 30) and Abhishek Sharma (45 off 24) shared 129 runs for the opening wicket to set the platform for SRH.
Klaasen (65 not out off 30 balls) then displayed his all-round hitting abilities to guide SRH home with the help of Nitish Kumar Reddy (21) and Salil Arora (30 not out off 10) in 18.4 overs.
Earlier, Rickelton's knock powered MI to 243 for five.
MI rode on a 93-run stand between Rickelton (123 not out off 55 balls) and Will Jacks (46 off 22) in 7.1 overs for the opening stand to power the side.
MI skipper Hardik Pandya scored a valuable 31 off 15 balls before being dismissed.
Praful Hinge (2/54), Eshan Malinga (1/29), Sakib Hasan (1/39) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (1/31) were the wicket-takers for SRH.
Brief Scores:
Mumbai Indian: 243 for 5 in 20 overs (Ryan Rickelton 123 not out; Praful Hinge 2/54).
Sunrisers Hyderabad: 249 for 4 in 18.4 overs (Travis Head 76, Heinrich Klaasen 65 not out; AM Ghazanfar 2/51).
