Mumbai: Rashtriya Swayamsevak (RSS) leader Bhaiyyaji Joshi’s comments that those coming to Mumbai need not learn to speak in Marathi, the state’ s official language, has landed the BJP in trouble. In the run-up to the Mumbai civic polls, the Opposition parties have seized this issue and claimed that the BJP wanted to dilute the importance of Marathi and wanted to split Mumbai from the state. Uddhav Thackeray of Sena (UBT) demanded that a treason case be filed against Joshi.
“Mumbai does not have one language. There are numerous languages (being spoken here) in different parts of the city. In Ghatkopar region, it is Gujarati that is spoken. In Girgaum, you will find Hindi and Marathi spoken. Those who come to Mumbai do not need to learn Marathi,” Joshi said.
