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'Will Thackeray hire an interpreter in Gujarat?'

Updated on: 03 August,2011 06:53 AM IST |
Ravikiran Deshmukh |

While Thackeray prepares to embark on a tour of Gujarat as a state guest, members of the Congress-NCP are busy taking potshots at the leader, alluding to his regionalist tendencies

While Thackeray prepares to embark on a tour of Gujarat as a state guest, members of the Congress-NCP are busy taking potshots at the leader, alluding to his regionalist tendencies.

On Monday, Mumbai Congress chief Kripashankar Singh taunted the leader over his predilection for the Marathi language, wondering aloud, "Which language is he going to converse in during his Gujarat visit? Is he going to hire an interpreter?"

NCP member Nawab Malik also passed some sharp remarks intended for Thackeray at an assembly debate. He said, "Even though I'm from North India, I make it a point to use the state language, Marathi, while addressing the house, and communicating with the natives.

But will the leaders who further their political agenda using the Marathi language as leverage ever deliver a speech in Hindi? Hindi is the national language, and we must honour it. Maharashtra is an integral part of the nation." Malik's remarks created quite a stir among MNS members present.

In the course of his visit from August 3-12, Thackeray will meet Gujarat CM Narendra Modi, visit the Sabarmati Ashram, the Sardar Patel memorial and the Akshardham Temple.

He will also be given presentations by 10 departments of the Gujarat government. He will visit the Nano car plant, the Mundra port, the Hazira industrial area, and the Narmada dam.