A political storm has erupted over RSS leader Bhaiyyaji Joshi’s statement on the Marathi language, with Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray demanding a sedition case against him. Joshi, however, clarified his remarks, stating that a “misunderstanding” had occurred due to his comments. He emphasized that Marathi is the language of Maharashtra and Mumbai, being part of the state, naturally shares this linguistic identity. Joshi acknowledged the diversity of languages spoken in Mumbai and across India, calling it a “great example of co-existence.”
#WATCH | Mumbai: On row over his statement, RSS leader Bhaiyyaji Joshi says, "Due to one of my statements, a misunderstanding has occurred. There is no question that the language of Mumbai is not Marathi. The language of Maharashtra is Marathi. Mumbai is in Maharashtra and… pic.twitter.com/1dS7kj90sa
— ANI (@ANI) March 6, 2025
He expressed a “natural expectation” that people coming to Mumbai should learn, understand, and respect Marathi, while also respecting all other languages. Thackeray, unimpressed by the clarification, stood firm on his demand for legal action, escalating the debate over language and identity in Maharashtra.