Bachchans again under Senas' target

Creating an issue out of no issue, the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has launched a scathing attack on actor and Samajwadi Party-backed Rajya Sabha MP Jaya Bachchan for preferring to speak in Hindi over Marathi in a film promotion event in Mumbai.

Though the remark came in a lighter mood, but was enough for the politicians to turn it as a political device to grab public attention. Reportedly, on Saturday, Mrs. Bachchan who was in a promotion ceremony in Mumbai for her son Abhishek Bachchan’s upcoming film ‘Drona’ said: "We are from Uttar Pradesh and we will speak in Hindi - Maharashtrian please forgive us”.

It, however, was painted as Bachchan’s support to north-Indians in speaking ‘Hindi’ in Maharastra as insult to Marathi culture.

Shiv Sena was quick to respond saying “People of Maharashtra will not tolerate such language from Jaya Bachchan," while MNS demanded an apology from her for insulting Marathi people.

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

Earlier too MNS had criticised Amitabh Bachchan for not doing enough for Maharastra despite living in for so many years, when Bachchan announced to establish a women’s college in Uttar Pradesh.

Recently, MNS activists in Maharastra had asked all shopkeepers and traders of other commercial establishments to place their hoardings and name plate in Marathi language within a deadline. They even vandalised many shops across the city that refused to do so.

The Congress party was quick to condemn the Shiv Sena and MNS for 'politicising' Jaya Bachchan’s statement.

Shiv Sena's breakaway faction Maharastra Navnirman Sena led by Raj Thackeray has been constantly raising voice against north-Indian migrants and many times instigated violence against them.