Raj Thackeray slams Mohan Bhagwat’s ‘language as localised disease’ remark, says Marathi identity non-negotiable

MUMBAI: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Sunday launched a sharp attack on RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat over his recent remarks describing linguistic assertion and agitations as a “kind of disease”, calling the statement dismissive of India’s federal and linguistic realities.

Reacting to Bhagwat’s comment made at an event in Mumbai on February 8, Thackeray said love for one’s language and region could not be trivialised as a disorder, arguing that strong linguistic and provincial identities exist across the country. “If love for one’s language is a disease, then this disease has spread across most Indian states,” Thackeray said in a strongly worded statement.




The MNS chief questioned the presence of several prominent personalities at the RSS event, claiming their attendance stemmed not from admiration for Bhagwat but from fear of the Narendra Modi-led government. “Otherwise, why did nobody attend such dull and boring sermons earlier?” he said, asking the RSS chief to “come out of this misconception”.

Thackeray said Bhagwat, given his stature, ought to be aware of the historical reasons that led to the reorganisation of states on linguistic lines. He cited examples from Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Punjab and Gujarat to underline that linguistic pride and regional identity were not unique to Maharashtra.

He also pointed to tensions arising when large groups of migrants move to other states, allegedly disregard local culture and language, and attempt to build political vote banks. Such behaviour, he said, naturally leads to resentment among locals. “You call this a disease?” Thackeray asked, adding that similar incidents had occurred in Gujarat when migrants from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar were driven out. “Why didn’t you go there to preach harmony?” he asked.

Accusing the ruling establishment in Maharashtra of weakness, Thackeray said Bhagwat would not dare make such statements in other states. He referred to remarks made by RSS leader Bhaiyyaji Joshi before elections suggesting that Mumbai’s language was not limited to Marathi, alleging that such comments were aimed at indirectly benefiting the BJP.

Thackeray questioned why the RSS, which claims to be a non-political organisation, was involving itself in such issues.

While asserting respect for the Sangh’s work, Thackeray said it should refrain from taking indirect political positions. He further challenged Bhagwat to first criticise the government for what he described as the imposition of Hindi across the country, noting that Hindi is not India’s national language.

Thackeray also warned against what he called the “force-fitting” of Hindutva into linguistic debates. Reiterating the MNS’s past actions, he said the party had taken stands against communal riots, loudspeakers at religious places, and noise pollution during festivals, irrespective of religion. “What is wrong is wrong — we say it plainly,” he said.

He accused the RSS chief of remaining silent on what he described as chaos unfolding in the name of Hindutva across the country, citing incidents during Kanwar Yatras, rising beef exports, and politicisation of cow slaughter as examples. Thackeray questioned when the RSS would hold the government and traders accountable on these issues.

Concluding his statement, Thackeray said the Marathi language and the Marathi people remained the MNS’s supreme priority. “Linguistic and regional identities will continue to exist in this country and in Maharashtra,” he said, warning that such sentiments form the party’s very reason for existence. “Whenever such situations arise, Maharashtra will rise with fury.”