Dubey's controversial remark heats up Maha politics

BJP MP Nishikant Dubey's controversial comments on Marathi have reignited the language issue in Maharashtra. Dubey's comments have caused so much controversy that the state unit of BJP is running for cover while the Opposition is claiming that the row has been created with an eye on the Bihar assembly polls.

Dubey said, "Why are you saying that you have to speak Marathi (in Maharashtra)? Whose roti are you eating there? Tata, Reliance and Birla have no units in Maharashtra. Tata put its first factory in Bihar. You are living on our money. What tax do you bring? What industry do you have? All semiconductor industries are going to Gujarat. We have mines in Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa (sic)... You are behaving like this and exploiting us (north Indians)?"

While Dubey said he respected Marathi and believed that it's a respectful language, he said Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray were playing 'vote bank politics'. He said: "If you have guts, then beat the people who speak Urdu or those who beat Tamilians, Telugu people. If you are such a big boss then come to Uttar Pradesh and Bihar and Tamil Nadu. They will beat you relentlessly."


The Opposition slammed BJP and the state government, claiming it was an insult to the Marathi-speaking people. Mumbai Congress chief and MP Varsha Gaikwad demanded that BJP and CM Devendra Fadnavis give a reply to Dubey's comments which were against Maharashtra and the people of the state.

BJP ally Shiv Sena slammed Dubey. MoS home Yogesh Kadam said: "Such arrogance won't work. We won't tolerate... Does not suit him to give such statements."

In assembly, BJP minister Ashish Shelar said: "If he does not know the Marathi man's contribution then we will make arrangements to send it to him. Marathis do not survive on anyone's scraps and Maharashtra definitely does not. Won't tolerate such remarks."