Maharashtra Congress launched the 'We are Marathi, We are Indian' campaign for the Marathi language. The BJP has called it a gimmick. Statements are flying back and forth between the two parties.
Political Turmoil in Maharashtra: The Maharashtra Congress recently organized a special Marathi language workshop titled 'We are Marathi, We are Indian'. This event took place in the Mira Road area, where Maharashtra Congress state president Harshvardhan Sapkal interacted with the public regarding the Marathi language. Sapkal stated from the stage that Marathi is not just a language but a symbol of the state's cultural identity and pride. He emphasized that the Congress is not against any language, but when a third language is forcibly imposed, it should be opposed.
Congress's Stance - Respect Through Education, Not Coercion
Harshvardhan Sapkal also clarified that the Congress believes in teaching and promoting the Marathi language, not in forcing it upon anyone. He said, "We will not fight with anyone, nor will we engage in any violence. We will teach Marathi to people so that everyone understands the dignity of this language."
He clearly stated at the event that the Congress's campaign was launched with the aim of protecting and promoting the Marathi language, and it should not be seen as a political maneuver. His statement came at a time when disputes over the promotion of various languages in the state are deepening.
BJP's Retaliation - The Opposition is Doing Gimmicks
The Bharatiya Janata Party has bly retaliated against the Congress's Marathi campaign. BJP leaders say that the Congress is doing all this only to attract political attention. According to them, the Marathi language is already b in Maharashtra and the new campaign by the Congress is just a 'political gimmick'.
The BJP says that the Congress only remembers Marathi before elections. Party leaders also argue that when the Congress was in power, it did not do any concrete work regarding the Marathi language.
Politics of Language or Cultural Awareness?
In a multilingual state like Maharashtra, language has always been a sensitive issue. Debates like Marathi versus Hindi, Marathi versus English have taken on a political color from time to time. However, this time, the Congress, under a measured strategy, has tried to move away from the politics of language and focus on education and cultural pride.
