‘We respect and will try to learn it’: Ajit Pawar’s suggestion to non-Marathi speakers in the state; stirs language row | India News

NEW DELHI: Deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar on Thursday urged non-Marathi speakers in Maharashtra to be delicate and respectful towards the native language. He suggested them to acknowledge Marathi and present a willingness to learn it, saying that this straightforward gesture might assist stop pointless battle amid the rising language tensions in the state.“Nothing will happen to someone who says that we are living in Maharashtra but can’t speak very good Marathi. However, we respect the language and will try to learn it,” he said as reported by PTI.Pawar emphasised that the language of the state one lives in ought to be revered. “It doesn’t happen always, people react badly many times. You should respect the language of the state you live in, at least a little bit,” he added.His comments come as the language row in Maharashtra continues to escalate and has now reached Parliament.Earlier during the day, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey came under fire from women MPs from Maharashtra over his controversial comment, “tumko patak patak ke marenge (we’ll thrash you thoroughly)” whereas referring to Maharashtrians. Surrounded by indignant ladies MPs demanding clarification, Dubey shortly backtracked and stated, “Jai Maharashtra”.The BJP MP’s comment was a response to Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray who threatened non-Marathi speakers with, “dubo-dubo ke maarenge (thrash them thoroughly).”The MNS, recognized for its aggressive stand on the “sons-of-the-soil” subject, has taken the language matter critically. Raj Thackeray has continued to make fiery speeches and stated he’s “proud of his soldiers”.The ongoing rigidity has led to a number of confrontations between Marathi and non-Marathi speakers. In one latest incident, a person was crushed by MNS staff for refusing to converse Marathi and difficult them by saying, “I will not speak in the language. What will you do?”Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis has condemned such assaults, calling the use of violence over language points unacceptable.