Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray delivered a powerful speech at the party’s Gudi Padwa rally at Shivaji Park, Mumbai, on Sunday. His address focused on protecting the Marathi language, opposing caste-based divisions, and criticizing both the political leadership and corporate influence in Maharashtra. He also spoke about environmental concerns and government inefficiencies.
Marathi Language Must Be Respected in Mumbai
Reiterating his long-standing stance on the Marathi identity, Raj Thackeray warned that people refusing to speak Marathi in Mumbai would face consequences.
“In our Mumbai, they tell us they cannot speak Marathi… they will get a slap on the face. Don’t tell me about the country and all. Every state has its own language, and it must be respected. In Mumbai, Marathi should be respected,” he declared.
Raj Thackeray directed MNS workers to check banks, commercial establishments, and public places to ensure that Marathi is prominently used in signage and customer interactions. Raj Thackeray also urged the government to implement strict regulations to promote the use of Marathi in businesses and government offices.
Thackeray drew comparisons with states like Tamil Nadu and Kerala, emphasizing that these states successfully resisted the imposition of Hindi and protected their regional languages. “Look at Tamil Nadu. It dared to say no to Hindi. Even Kerala,” he said.
His remarks come amid increasing debates over linguistic identity and cultural preservation in Maharashtra, a state with a significant non-Marathi-speaking population due to migration from other parts of India.
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Criticism of Caste Politics and Corporate Influence
Raj Thackeray also criticized political parties for dividing people based on caste to distract them from real issues.
“I appeal to the youngsters of Maharashtra to first stop reading history on WhatsApp and from the caste point of view. This is being done to politically divide you, stop you from coming together as Marathis,” he said.
Raj Thackeray accused Maharashtra’s political leadership of allowing industrialist Gautam Adani to take control of key infrastructure projects, such as Mumbai Airport, Navi Mumbai Airport, and the Dharavi redevelopment project.
“Adani turned out much cleverer than all of us,” he remarked, hinting that politicians were helping corporate giants while ignoring the common people’s interests. (Source: Mid-Day)
Row Over Aurangzeb’s Tomb
Speaking on the recent controversy surrounding the tomb of Aurangzeb, Raj Thackeray criticized those who wanted to destroy historical structures.
“We should not destroy the structures of those who were defeated by the Marathas. The world should know that we buried them,” he said.
He also condemned the growing trend of using films and social media narratives to shape people’s historical knowledge.
“How come everybody is suddenly remembering Aurangzeb? A Hindu who gets woken up by watching a film is of no use. You can’t read history on WhatsApp. You need to read books,” Thackeray asserted.
His comments were a clear message to right-wing groups that frequently demand action against Mughal-era monuments, claiming they symbolize oppression.
Environmental Concerns: The Dying Rivers of Mumbai
Raj Thackeray also raised serious environmental concerns, particularly about river pollution. He pointed out that despite the government spending ₹33,000 crore on cleaning the Ganga, there has been little to no improvement.
He highlighted the alarming state of Mumbai’s rivers, stating:
“Four out of five rivers in Mumbai are dead, and the fifth, Mithi, is on the verge of dying.”
He criticized religious practices that contribute to environmental damage and questioned whether they should be modified in modern times.
“If our nature is getting destroyed, shouldn’t we change ourselves? Times have changed. Can’t there be a different provision to conduct the last rites?”
To emphasize his point, Thackeray showed a video showcasing the pollution in the Ganga River, proving that despite multiple government initiatives, little progress had been made.
Praise for Yogi Adityanath and Loudspeaker Politics
Raj Thackeray praised Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for taking strict action against loudspeakers in religious places.
“When I spoke about it, 17,000 of our workers faced action. Now CM Fadnavis says loudspeakers should not be used between 10 PM and 6 AM. But the real issue is the usage between 6 AM and 10 PM,” he pointed out.
By praising Yogi Adityanath, Thackeray indirectly criticized the Maharashtra government for failing to enforce similar measures, despite repeated demands from various political and social groups.
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Final Message to the Maharashtra Government
Raj Thackeray concluded his speech with a direct message to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, urging him to focus on Maharashtra’s real issues.
“Devendra Fadnavis, give proper attention to the state. If you have good intentions, we will support you. But if you continue to ignore the issues that affect Marathi people, we will stand against you.”
The Gudi Padwa rally served as a powerful reminder of MNS’s commitment to Marathi identity, cultural preservation, and responsible governance. It remains to be seen how the Maharashtra government will respond to Thackeray’s renewed aggression in defending the rights of Marathi-speaking people in Mumbai.
