Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Dec 28: Even as the political atmosphere in Mumbai and across Maharashtra remains charged over the Marathi language issue, tension flared on Saturday after posters put up by the Uttar Bharatiya Sena near Shiv Sena Bhavan triggered sharp reactions from the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS).
Posters bearing the message, “Uttar Bharatiya sathoge to bachoge, warna batoge to pitoge” (If North Indians stay united, they will survive; if they divide, they will be beaten), were displayed in the Sena Bhavan area, leading to strong criticism and an aggressive response from the MNS.
Reacting to the posters, MNS leader Sandeep Deshpande said, “If you insult Marathi people, you will be beaten even if you don’t divide,” escalating the war of words and raising fears of another political confrontation over the issue.
Referring to the controversy, Uttar Bharatiya Sena leader Shukla questioned why, if Uttar Pradesh’s first chief minister Govind Pant was Marathi, Mumbai could not have a North Indian mayor. He alleged that North Indians were being assaulted under the Devendra Fadnavis-led government and claimed that the MNS had begun “net practice” against North Indians. “If the MNS comes to power, then season cricket will begin,” he warned, expressing apprehension over potential violence.
Deshpande strongly countered Shukla’s remarks, reiterating that any insult to Marathi people would not be tolerated. He also accused certain groups of deliberately fuelling the controversy.
Meanwhile, in a separate political development, former Jogeshwari corporator Changez Multani joined the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray faction) on Saturday in the presence of party chief Uddhav Thackeray. Multani had defeated Shiv Sena’s Raju Pednekar in the 2017 municipal elections.
It is learnt that Multani is currently keen on contesting from ward number 62 in Jogeshwari West. The induction ceremony took place at Matoshree, with party MLA Haroon Khan and leader Bala Ambedkar, among others, present.
The developments indicate that political tensions in the city are likely to intensify further amid the ongoing debate over identity and language.