Resorting to violence over Marathi unacceptable, you can't be obstinate about it: CM Fadnavis
Mumbai, Jul 4 (PTI): Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday said while there was nothing wrong in expecting people to speak Marathi in the state, it was unacceptable to resort to violence for its insistence and that one cannot be "obstinate" about it.
He also warned of legal action against those taking the law into their hands over the issue.
The CM's remarks came in response to a recent incident in which Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) workers assaulted a food stall owner in Thane district's Bhayandar for not speaking Marathi, and a businessman in Mumbai issuing a statement declaring he would not speak Marathi despite having lived in the city for many years.
"You can ask people to speak Marathi in Maharashtra, but you cannot be obstinate about Marathi," Fadnavis told reporters on the premises of the Vidhan Bhavan, the state legislature complex here.
"Marathi people cannot have so much hatred against other languages," he added.
Cautioning against linguistic chauvinism, he said, "Even I am Marathi. There are (Marathi) people working in other states. If they get similar treatment (there), then it is not fair. Whoever takes the law into their hands will face legal action."
He criticised the selective outrage over languages, and said, "I sometimes wonder how these people embrace English, but create controversy over Hindi. What sort of thought process is this?"
Calling for constructive promotion of the language, Fadnavis said, "If you are truly proud of Marathi, then speak Marathi. Encourage others to speak Marathi. Start classes to teach Marathi. Why do you send your children to schools where Marathi is taught as the third language? Send them to Marathi medium schools."
According to him, the police have taken action against MNS workers who manhandled a businessman in Thane who could not speak in Marathi.
Speaking about the withdrawal of two government resolutions (GRs) linked to the implementation of the three-language policy amid a growing chorus against the introduction of the Hindi language in Maharashtra schools from classes 1 to 5, Fadnavis said the opposition was being opportunistic.
"The two parties seem very happy with the cancellation, but people are aware that when Uddhav Thackeray was the chief minister, it was his government that accepted the NEP, formed a committee and implemented the same decisions," he said.
"We have now formed a committee that will look into all the aspects. Whatever is good for our students, the committee will recommend, and we will implement it," he said.
On Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde raising "Jai Gujarat" slogan at an event attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Pune, Fadnavis defended his colleague.
"He was attending an event of the Gujarati community because he was invited there. His statement was in their context. It doesn't mean he loves Gujarat more than Maharashtra," the CM said.
He pointed out that such interpretations were short-sighted.
"A few years ago, Sharad Pawar had gone to Chikodi in Karnataka and raised the slogans of 'Jai Maharashtra, Jai Karnataka'. Does that mean he loves Karnataka more than Maharashtra?" Fadnavis asked.
"This kind of narrow view towards the Marathi language is not good. Marathi language and Marathi people have contributed immensely across fields. There were prominent Marathi personalities in our country's freedom movement as well," he added.
Speaking about the status of the proposed Nagpur-Goa Shaktipeeth Expressway, the CM said, "Most of the land-related issues have been resolved. Some farmers in Sangli have raised objections. We are considering a realignment in Kolhapur. The opposition to the project now is purely political."
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Women BJP MLAs protest against opposition in UP assembly premises
Lucknow (PTI): Women BJP MLAs held a protest in the Vidhan Bhawan complex before the one-day special session of Uttar Pradesh assembly, slamming the opposition for defeating the passage of a bill, which would have led to implementation of the Women's Reservation Law, in the Lok Sabha.
This followed another demonstration by Samajwadi Party MLAs, who alleged that the BJP was misleading public in the name of women's reservation.
The women BJP legislators assembled in front of Chaudhary Charan Singh's statue in the assembly premises, holding banners inscribed with the slogan "Insult to Matrushakti (women's power), India will not tolerate it". The protesting members entered the main hall of Vidhan Bhawan carrying the banners.
Participating in the protest, the state Minister for Women Welfare and Child Development, Baby Rani Maurya, told reporters that all opposition parties, including the Samajwadi Party and the Congress, had opposed the women's reservation, a stance for which they would have to pay a heavy political price.
"On this issue, all of us women stand united. We will ensure that we secure our reservation," she said.
BJP MLA Ketki Singh remarked that their protest represents the collective outrage of millions of women across the state.
Singh asserted that the opposition has betrayed women by creating hurdles in the path of women's reservation. The current demonstration is merely the beginning, and very soon, women from every street, intersection and household will join the protest movement, she said.
Minister Vijaylakshmi Gautam said, "We strongly condemn the despicable act committed by the Samajwadi Party and the Congress in an attempt to hold back 'half the population' (women). Their action was directed against the very bill that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had introduced to empower and strengthen Nari Shakti (women's power), and which he strived to pass expeditiously."
Uttar Pradesh assembly is holding a one-day special session on Thursday. During the session, the government is set to move a censure motion against the opposition parties over their failure to pass the Constitution Amendment Bill, which would have led to implementation of the Women's Reservation Act, in the Lok Sabha.
