Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has warned that violence in the name of language will not be tolerated.
“One can take pride in the Marathi language, but assaulting others for not knowing or speaking Marathi will not be accepted. Legal action will be taken against such offenders,” he stated.
Fadnavis was speaking at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in Delhi during the foundation stone laying ceremony of a new Centre for Strategic and Defence Studies named after Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and the inauguration of the Kusumagraj Chair for Marathi language studies last evening.
Highlighting the significance of Marathi, Fadnavis said it is an ancient language. “It was due to our request that Prime Minister Narendra Modi granted it the status of a classical language. Pride in Marathi is natural and justified, but violence in its name will not be tolerated. Those indulging in such actions will face strict legal consequences”, he said.
He emphasized Marathi’s contribution to the country, especially in the field of theatre. “If any language has kept Indian theatre alive across the nation, it is Marathi”, he said. Fadnavis added that research and academic study of the language is vital and the Kusumagraj Chair at JNU will work towards that objective.
Fadnavis also stressed the importance of respecting all Indian languages. “Every citizen must take pride in their mother tongue. However, respecting other Indian languages is also our responsibility. We easily accept English but often neglect our native languages, which is not right,” he said.
