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No place for Hindi in Mumbai Corporation, says Bal Thackeray

Special Correspondent

Bal Thackeray

MUMBAI: Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray on Thursday rejected the Congress’ demand for partial introduction of Hindi in administration of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation and warned against any attempt to undermine the importance of Marathi.

“Marathi has been the official language of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation. Then why is the question of Hindi being raised now,” Mr. Thackeray said in a statement in the party organ Saamna. “This will not happen, no and we mean no,” he said.

The Shiv Sena-BJP alliance is in power in the civic body.

Leader of the Opposition Rajhans Singh had demanded that Hindi be given a place in the working of the corporation to help non-Marathi members.

He gave a notice demanding a discussion on the matter. But it could not be discussed on February 14 as the House adjourned after paying homage to social activist Baba Amte, who passed away recently. Now Mr. Singh has to give second notice.

‘Let circulars be in Hindi’

His demand is that at least notices and circulars given to members be in Hindi. Though the official language of the corporation is Marathi, it is customary to issue such notices and circulars also in English.

Municipal Commissioner Jayraj Pathak said the official language of all corporations in the country was the State language. Even in Ulhasnagar, which neighbours Thane district, the civic body functioned only in Marathi though the majority members were Sindhi.

Mr. Thackeray could have directed his party leader in the civic body to reject the suggestion in the civic debate. But he chose to make a public statement and instruct his corporators to oppose the demand in the wake of his nephew Raj Thackeray’s recent attempt to claim a slice of the Marathi constituency.

The Saamna also carried an editorial denouncing the demand for limited use of Hindi in the civic body. It saidthe leaders demanding Hindi should be arrested and prosecuted criminally.

‘Advice’ to Lalu Prasad

It also ridiculed Railway Minister Lalu Yadav for saying that he would perform “Chhath puja” in Mumbai and advised him to have it on the Marina Beach of Chennai, for the DMK was his ally.

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