Marathi issue not vote-bank politics: MNS leader Bala Nandgaonkar

The issue of Marathi seems set to play a dominant role in the upcoming Maharashtra Aassembly elections, going by Marathi Ka Mudda session at Panchayat Aaj Tak on Saturday, where leaders from different parties remained focused on the pride of state as opposed to national priorities.

The issue of Marathi dominated the session attended by Bala Nandgaonkar (MNS), Sanjay Nirupam (Congress), Abu Azmi (SP) and Kirit Somaiya (BJP MP), with the former saying the Marathi issue is not about vote-bank politics. The Marathi issue is about the honour of the language, which is my mother tongue, and of Maharashtra, where we live," he said.

When asked if this would remove hunger, Bala Nandgaonkar said this question needs to be asked to those in power. "They should ensure people who pay taxes are getting all kinds of facilities too," he said.

While Somaiya agreed that every Mumbaikar or Maharashtrian thinks about the honour and right of the Marathi language, he also said the issue cannot be seen through the prism of vote-bank politics.

When pointed out to him why non-Maharashtrians are being made to feel second rate citizens, Azmi said he took oath in Hindi. "That doesn't mean I disrespect other languages. But people make political capital out of that," he said.

Bala Nandgaonkar said Hindi is "not a national language. It's a link language. Don't you think the people who choose you should get the some respect?"

But what about the violence against north Indians? "There were 900 cases filed against MNS leaders," Nirupam said. But no one went to jail, Azmi retorts. To this, Nirupam added, "The government and the police act under certain process. Parties such as MNS will come and go. We don't accept their ideology. We respect all languages and everyone."

Nirupam added, "Mumbai is made all kinds of people - south Indians, north Indians, Gujaratis and all. If people are harasshed in the name of caste or language, the power of Mumbai will get diminished."