'We won't allow release of films starring Bachchans'

MUMBAI: Raj Thackeray on Monday said his party Maharashtrian Navnirman Sena (MNS) will not allow release of films starring Bachchans till Jaya Bachchan tenders an unconditional apology over her alleged anti-Marathi remarks.
���Maharashtrians should boycott all products endorsed by the Bachchans who have "poison in their minds" for Marathi people,��� the MNS chief said.

An apparent off-the-cuff remark by actress Jaya Bachchan supporting the use of Hindi language by north Indians in Maharashtra has snowballed into a major controversy.

MNS demanded an apology from her, saying she has insulted the Marathi people. At the Drona film promo, Jaya had said "hum UP ke log hain, hamein Hindi mein baat karni chahiye" (we are from Uttar Pradesh and should speak in Hindi).

"Can she dare utter such remarks in Assam, where people are killed for speaking in Hindi," a Sena leader said.
"She should go to states like Tamil Nadu and Kerala and propagate Hindi there," he added.

Sena spokesperson and Jaya Bachchan's colleague in Rajya Sabha Sanjay Raut had said: "People of Maharashtra will not tolerate such language."

"The Bachchans have been living here for so many years and saying that they do not know the local language is an insult to Marathi people," MNS leader Yashwant Killedar had said.