Cong sides with Jaya Bachchan

New Delhi, Sep 10 (UNI) The Congress today lambasted Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray and his nephew Raj Thackeray for targeting film actress Jaya Bachchan for speaking in Hindi at a recent function in Mumbai, saying nobody has the right to insult the national language.

''Everybody loves his mother tongue, but they should also respect and honour the national language,'' Congress spokesman Shakeel Ahmed said in response to Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray's warning of a blanket ban on the release of movies starring the Bachchan family in Maharashtra till Mrs Bachchan apologised to the people of the state for her remarks, proclaiming her love for the Hindi language.

Bal Thackeray later joined his estranged nephew in targeting Mrs Bachchan for her anti-Marathi utterances, warning her not to provoke the Maharashtrians.

''Hindi is our national language and nobody should insult it,'' the Congress spokesman said.

Mrs Bachchan, during the music release of the film 'Drona', featuring her son Abhishek, had said on Saturday: ''Hum Uttar Pradesh ke log hain, isliye Hindi mein baat karenge. Maharashtra ke log maaf kariye. '' Mr Ahmed said the State Home Minister had already stated that nobody was above law and appropriate action would be taken.

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