Thackeray urges Marathis to speak in own language

Mumbai, Jan 3 (UNI) Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray today urged Marathis to take a pledge to speak only in their language.

''If Marathi-speaking people themselves do not speak their language, how can others be expected to develop a love for the Marathi language?'' Mr Thackeray said in a long statement appearing in the Sena mouthpiece ''Saamna''.

Referring to the large influx of people from other states into Mumbai, Mr Thackeray said that the Marathis are to blame for the situation as the outsiders have realised that they can stay there without having to learn Marathi. This is not possible for outsiders in other states, he said.

Mr Thackeray's statement assumes political significance as it comes ahead of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections scheduled for February 1. Incidentally, it is the ''Marathi Manoos (The Marathi People)'' call of the Sena that had gained the party its prominence.

Veteran journalist and litterateur Arun Sadhu, who was recently elected president of the Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan, too had urged the Shiv Sena chief to exhort Marathis to speak in their own language.

In his statement, Mr Thackeray said there was no objection to Hindi being deemed as the national language, but, then, the languages of the individual states also need to be respected.

Regarding Hindi, he noted that nowadays even Urdu words have ''infiltrated'' into Hindi and ''we have proudly accepted it''.

Mr Thackeray rued that even Maharashtra ministers have their name plates made in English.

The Shiv Sena chief admitted that his grand children are studying in English medium schools.'' But, they have been asked to talk and read Marathi at home to preserve the culture'', he added.

UNI