Maharashtra Politics: Language and Religion in Focus Ahead of Elections:
As the elections draw near, a linguistic dispute has erupted in Mumbai, where activists from Shiv Sena (UBT) and the MNS have vandalized Gujarati signboards in the Ghatkopar area, which has a significant Gujarati population. BJP leaders are calling for the reinstallation of these signboards by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).
Unidentified individuals damaged a signboard with Gujarati text and replaced it with a flex displaying the Shiv Sena (UBT) symbol at a triangular traffic junction near the ‘N’ ward BMC office in Ghatkopar. This junction was beautified in 2016 by the then-local BJP corporator Pravin Chheda, who installed a large sign in Gujarati reading ‘Maru Ghatkopar’ (My Ghatkopar) on one side.
Following this incident, MNS activists also defaced other Gujarati nameplates on RB Mehta Marg on Monday night, creating a tense atmosphere in Ghatkopar.
On Tuesday, BJP workers and Gujarati residents in Ghatkopar staged protests against these acts of vandalism. Chheda noted that the traffic junction had signages in Marathi From Maharashtra and English on the other two sides, and there was no intention to exclusively promote the Gujarati language. He accused both Shiv Sena UBT and the MNS of attempting to exploit the situation for their own political advantage by stirring up a Marathi vs. Gujarati dispute.
The Marathi vs. Gujarati dispute is expected to escalate into a significant controversy in the coming days. The incident occurred shortly after a Marathi woman, Trupti Deorukhkar, was allegedly denied access to premises in the Mulund area, which was primarily occupied by Gujarati residents. Subsequently, Gujarati office bearers of the society issued an apology.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra BJP MLA Nitesh Rane has called for restrictions on entry into upcoming Navratri festivals, permitting only Hindus to prevent ‘Love Jihad’ incidents. He urged organizers to check Aadhaar cards at the entrance and admit only Hindus to garba and dandiya venues in Maharashtra.
“We demand that individuals participating in dandiya and garba events should be from the Hindu community. We have requested organizers to verify the Aadhaar cards of all attendees at the entrance and admit only Hindus to ensure the safety of Hindu women,” said the BJP MLA.
He claimed that several incidents have linked ‘love jihad’ cases and religious conversions to such festivities.
“Hindu women are deceived and enticed. People from outside our community attend such events wearing saffron and other attire and falsely claim to be Hindus,” added Rane.
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