Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Sunday mounted a fierce offensive against BJP leader K Annamalai, accusing him of deliberately provoking a dangerous debate over Mumbai’s identity and attempting to weaken Maharashtra’s historical claim over the city. Addressing a packed rally at Shivtirtha in Dadar, Thackeray warned that such statements were not isolated remarks but part of a long-running design aimed at reshaping Mumbai’s political and cultural character.
Launching a direct attack, Raj Thackeray said, “Mumbai Is Not Anyone’s Property to Redefine—Those Who Question Its Identity Are Playing With Fire. Marathi people have built this city, and no outsider has the right to lecture us about where Mumbai belongs.” He alleged that repeated attempts were being made to dilute Maharashtra’s bond with its capital by portraying Mumbai as a detached, global entity.
During his speech, Thackeray presented visuals and data to claim that large parcels of Mumbai’s land were steadily moving into the hands of select corporate groups. He argued that this trend, coupled with political narratives questioning Mumbai’s roots, was pushing Marathi families out of the city both economically and socially. “Marathi people are being denied homes in their own city, while others openly question our relationship with Mumbai,” he said.
Taking a swipe at Annamalai, whom he mockingly referred to as “Rasmalai,” Thackeray criticised the statement describing Mumbai as merely a global metropolis. “Calling Bombay a global city is not the problem. Saying it is not a Maharashtra city exposes a dangerous mindset,” he remarked, adding that such thinking insulted generations who shaped Mumbai’s identity.
Invoking the legacy of Balasaheb Thackeray, the MNS chief recalled past movements launched to protect local rights. “The slogan ‘Hatao Lungi, Bajao Pungi’ did not emerge without reason. It was born when locals were being sidelined in their own land,” he said, alleging that similar forces were again trying to divide Marathi people and weaken their collective voice.
