Pro-Marathi protests held at Mira Road; two ministers from same party issue conflicting statements, exposing cracks in the Mahayuti
A pro-Marathi rally organised at Mira Road. Pic/Nimesh Dave
Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena leaders were seen singing different tunes regarding the permission for the pro-Marathi protest rally at Mira Road. While Minister of State for Home Yogesh Kadam claimed that permission for the rally was denied due to concerns over potential law and order issues along the proposed route, his party and government colleague, Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik maintained that the government had not issued any instruction to stop the rally.
As pro-Marathi supporters began gathering at Mira Road to participate in the protest despite police denying permission, the police started detaining participants. Tensions escalated on Tuesday morning, and while speaking to the media outside Vidhan Bhavan, Kadam said, “The proposed route of the rally could have led to tension. Hence, permission for the protest was denied.”
The protest was called by the ‘Marathi Ekikaran Samiti’ in response to a rally held by local traders in Mira Road after an MNS worker allegedly slapped a shopkeeper for not speaking in Marathi. The counter rally was supported by the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT).
As the situation worsened, Transport Minister Sarnaik expressed displeasure with the government — particularly the home department — for mishandling the situation. “There was no reason to deny permission for a peaceful rally. The government gave no such orders. It’s the police who mishandled the situation. I will be expressing my displeasure to the chief minister,” Sarnaik said, referring to Devendra Fadnavis, who heads the home department.
In fact, Sarnaik even attempted to join the rally but was allegedly heckled by protesters and had to leave. Both Kadam and Sarnaik are key leaders in the Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena, but their opposing views on the Mira Road rally reveal signs of miscommunication within the party and the larger BJP-led Mahayuti coalition government.
State BJP distances itself from MP’s ‘roti’ remark
The BJP MLA from Kandivli, Atul Bhatkalkar, on Tuesday, claimed that the party did not endorse statements made by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, who had controversially said, “Whose roti are you [Maharashtra] eating? What tax do you even contribute?” Reacting to the comment, Bhatkalkar said, “Maharashtra generates much higher tax revenue than any other state. We do not endorse such statements — regardless of who makes them.” Earlier on Monday, Mumbai BJP president Ashish Shelar stated that while the BJP will never compromise on Marathi pride, it will also not tolerate attacks on non-Marathi-speaking communities.
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