Pune: In a sharp reaction to Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan's controversial remarks on Marathi, Shiv SenaChief Bal Thackeray on Tuesday asked her not to provoke Maharashtrians, saying it was Mumbai that gave identity to the Bachchans bestowing fame when they were an "unknown commodity".
Describing Amitabh Bachchan as a great artiste whose acting talent transcended geographical and lingual barriers, Thackeray in an editorial in Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' said,
"Jaya Bachchan has been making controversial statements that have vitiated the atmosphere leading to discord. This has caused mental agony to her husband also."
Referring to Jaya's off-the-cuff remark at a film promo party on September 6 that Marathis should pardon her as she hailed from UP and would speak in Hindi, Thackeray said, "Why these people are not going to the Southern states or Assam to hoist the flag of Hindi?"
The Sena chief said, The big shots in Hindi film industry, including Shahrukh Khan, came here and flourished.
"After reaping the harvest, these people start asserting their regional and lingual affiliations and if Maharashtrians talk about their cultural identity, the Marathi Manoos is branded as parochial."
"Those who call us parochial should remember that Maharashtra's contribution to Indian nationalism is unmatched.
Mahatma Gandhi had made Gopal Krishna Gokhale his Guru from whom he got the inspiration in country's freedom struggle.
Maharashtra produced many revolutionaries who sacrificed their lives for the country," the editorial said.
Comments
0 comment