Raj, Uddhav to stage joint protest against 'imposition' of Hindi, three-language formula
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Mumbai (PTI): Estranged cousins Uddhav and Raj Thackeray will unite for the cause of the Marathi language, as their parties will stage a joint protest against the "imposition" Hindi and the state government's three-language formula for Classes 1-5.
The protest on July 5 will bring Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray on the same platform.
Both leaders had asserted on Thursday that they would vehemently oppose the imposition of Hindi and the three-language formula while addressing separate press conferences at the same time.
Uddhav had announced to join a protest by civil society at Azad Maidan on July 7, while Raj declared that he would take out a non-political march from Girgaum Chowpatty on July 6, and would invite leaders of all political outfits, including the Shiv Sena (UBT).
Talking to reporters on Friday, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said Raj invited him to take part in the July 6 protest.
He said Uddhav immediately consented to be part of the protest but raised concerns that Ashadhi Ekadashi, which is celebrated across the state with much fanfare, falls on July 6, and it would be inconvenient for everyone.
Raut said the Sena (UBT) chief suggested a joint protest by both parties on July 5, and Raj also consented to it.
"A joint protest of MNS and Sena (UBT) will take place on July 5. There is only an issue of the timing because the time suggested by Raj Thackeray is 10 am, and it would be inconvenient for people," he said, adding that the parties will discuss the timings.
There has been a buzz about a possible rapprochement between the Thackeray cousins, and the language issue may prove to be the platform they need to put up a united front.
The Rajya Sabha MP said that the two cousins feel there should be a fight similar to the one put up during the Samyukt Maharashtra movement for the formation of the state in 1960, and the Thackerays should lead it.
"Similar attacks are now taking place to break Mumbai and drive the Marathi manoos out of Maharashtra," Raut said.
He said other political parties will also be invited to take part in the protest.
MNS Mumbai president Sandeep Deshpande said, "As a Marathi manoos, I am happy for the way Raj saheb took the lead for Marathi manoos, and it was reciprocated by Uddhav saheb."
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has made it clear that Hindi is optional while Marathi is compulsory.
The row erupted after the state government last week issued an amended order stating Hindi will "generally" be taught as the third language to students in Marathi and English medium schools from Classes 1 to 5.
According to the order, if 20 students per grade in a school wish to study any other Indian language, they can opt out of Hindi. If such a demand arises, either a teacher will be appointed, or the language will be taught online.
School Education Minister Dada Bhuse has said that there will be no books for Classes 1 and 2.
The medium of instruction will be oral, and students of these two grades will be taught songs and shown pictures.
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Mumbai family deaths: FDA finds no watermelon vendor in area to check for affected stock
Mumbai (PTI): The Food and Drug Administration team probing the cause of death of four members of a family in south Mumbai's JJ Marg area have not been able to zero in on any watermelon vendor in the vicinity to check if the fruit had a role to play in the ill-fated incident, an official said on Thursday.
The Dokadia family, residents of Ghari Mohalla on Ismail Kurte Road, had hosted a get-together of relatives on the night of April 25. At around 1 am, hours after the guests had left, Abdullah Dokadia (40), his wife Nasreen (35), and daughters Ayesha (16) and Zaineb (13) ate pieces of a watermelon.
They suffered severe bouts of vomiting and diarrhoea in the early hours of April 26 and were rushed to a local hospital before being referred to the government-run J J Hospital where all four died during treatment.
"The FDA team visited the house of Dokadia and collected samples of chicken pulao and watermelon pieces. After two days, the leftover chicken pulao had developed fungus growth. The team also tried to locate watermelon vendors to check for any affected lots," he said.
But no vendors were found in the area for the past two days, preventing the FDA team from getting samples, the official added.
The FDA has requested the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) to share the report on the food samples collected by them, he added.
A senior Mumbai police official said the force is waiting for FSL reports in the case, adding that questions on presence of sedatives etc in the fruit could be answered only then.
The statements of the kin of the deceased are being recorded to ascertain if it is a case of mass suicide, and it is being checked if the Dokadia family were in debt or distressed over some issue, the police official said.
