Mumbai’s Linguistic Identity Debate Heats Up After RSS Leader’s Comment
While Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi maintains that his remarks were taken out of context, the political storm surrounding them shows no signs of settling anytime soon.
Senior Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader Suresh ‘Bhaiyyaji’ Joshi has sparked controversy with his remarks on the Marathi language in Mumbai, drawing sharp criticism from the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) parties. Joshi initially stated that Mumbai does not have a single dominant language and that people moving to the city are not necessarily required to learn Marathi.
Following the political uproar, he issued a clarification, stating that his words had been misunderstood. Speaking at an event in Mumbai’s Vidyavihar, on Wednesday, Joshi remarked that Mumbai is a multilingual city where different areas have different linguistic influences. He pointed out that in places like Ghatkopar, Gujarati is widely spoken, whereas Girgaon has a stronger Marathi presence. “There is no single language of Mumbai. People coming here don’t have to learn Marathi," he said.
related stories
His comment drew immediate backlash from Opposition leaders, who accused him of undermining the importance of Marathi in Maharashtra’s capital. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut accused Joshi of insulting Maharashtra. “Marathi is our state language and such a statement amounts to treason. The statement is a treason. He came to Mumbai and said its language is not Marathi. Should the Chief Minister and the Council of Ministers tolerate this?" Raut said.
Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said that a sedition case should be filed against the RSS leader for his remarks while adding that this is the hidden agenda of BJP and the RSS. “Just as the Chief Minister said in the Legislative Council that Kortkar is a petty man, he should also say that Bhaiyyaji Joshi is a petty man. A case of sedition should be filed against Bhaiyyaji Joshi," Thackeray said.
The issue also found its way into the ongoing budget session of the Maharashtra Assembly, where Opposition leaders demanded that Joshi apologise.
Responding to the controversy, Joshi clarified that his statement had been misinterpreted. “I believe there has been a misunderstanding regarding my statement. Marathi is the language of Maharashtra, and Mumbai is an integral part of the state. There is no debate about that," he said.
He emphasised that India is a country where people speaking multiple languages coexist harmoniously. “Multilingualism is our strength. People in Mumbai live together despite their linguistic differences. However, we expect that those coming to Mumbai should try to understand, learn, and respect Marathi. It is a culturally rich language, and more people should study it," he added.
Despite Joshi’s clarification, Opposition parties continued to target him, accusing him of downplaying the role of Marathi in Mumbai. Leaders from Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) demanded an unconditional apology, asserting that Marathi is central to Mumbai’s identity and must be respected by all who live in the city.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde also weighed in on the controversy, defending Joshi. “Bhaiyyaji Joshi has already provided clarification on what he said. I also say the same thing—that in Maharashtra, Marathi is our primary language… Marathi should be granted the status of a classical language, and we had even made this demand to Prime Minister Modi. He (Modi) has given Marathi the status of a classical language… The opposition members who were putting up posters in another language are now playing politics. This is unfortunate," Shinde said in a statement to ANI.
The controversy has reignited the long-standing debate over linguistic identity in Mumbai, a city that has always been a melting pot of cultures and languages. While Joshi maintains that his remarks were taken out of context, the political storm surrounding them shows no signs of settling anytime soon.
- Location :
- First Published: