Whoever tries to erase imprint of Marathi will be taught a lesson, declares Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray

Mumbai: Those seeking to erase the imprint of Marathi language would be taught a lesson, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray warned on Saturday. Thackeray was speaking on the occasion of the foundation stone-laying ceremony of the Marathi Bhasha Bhavan in south Mumbai.

“In Maharashtra, Marathi language should be taught in schools, shops should have Marathi signs. Every tourist coming to Mumbai should visit Marathi Bhasha Bhavan, learn about the richness of Marathi, let him know what a great treasure Marathi language is,” he said.

“Like the Chhatrapati’s sword, Marathi language and her brilliance should shine. This is the mother tongue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj of Maharashtra,” he said.

Thackeray said that learning other languages was not a crime but one should never feel inferior about their own mother tongue.

“I don’t hate other languages, but we will not tolerate the insult of Marathi,” he said.

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, in his speech, took a swipe at those coming to Mumbai for their livelihoods but opposed Marathi. He asked such people to introspect instead of opposing Marathi for the sake of opposition.

Pawar said that the government had enacted a law to put Marathi signage on shops. He rebuffed those who had approached the high court against the state government’s law.

Further, he assured that funds wouldn’t be an issue for the completion of the Marathi Bhasha Bhavan. He said that a sub-centre of the Bhavan would be located at Navi Mumbai.

Marathi Language Minister Subhash Desai said that the department would start virtual classes to teach Marathi to Marathi-speaking people residing in 80 countries.