Latest news with #non-Marathi-speaking
New Indian Express
15 hours ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Cabinet rejig talks spark speculation
The fear of losing ministerial positions is increasingly palpable, with rumours in the corridors of power that several ministers may be dropped in an imminent Union Cabinet reshuffle. The growing speculation is the reshuffle will take place by the end of August. It may induct many fresh faces, while dropping those with dissatisfactory performance over their two consecutive terms in office. 'They may be reassigned to organisational duties, given their experience,' a senior functionary remarked. He said their roles may be redefined at the national and state levels within the organisation or special party roles could be assigned to them. In the anticipated reshuffle, ministries currently under dual charge, such as Minority Affairs, Electronics and Information Technology, Social Justice and Development of the Northeast are expected to have full-time cabinet ministers. There is also strong speculation that the Ministry of Finance may undergo a change in leadership, with a new minister appointed. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) may see a shift at the Minister of State level. 'There is a strong possibility of change in the MEA, if not at the Cabinet level, then certainly at the MoS level,' remarked a senior government source. 'The performance of every minister is under scrutiny, as the Prime Minister does not tolerate even slight laxity or subpar performance', remarked an official. Maha language row worries Bihar BJP The BJP, preparing for the Bihar Assembly polls, is worried following reports of non-Marathi-speaking individuals being attacked in Maharashtra. A senior BJP leader from North India, remarked bitterly, 'The hooliganism being perpetrated against non-Marathi-speakers in Mumbai could have serious repercussions for the BJP in Bihar polls, as majority of those being targeted come from either Bihar or UP'. The ongoing conflict over language in Maharashtra is reverberating across rural Bihar. Many people from the state, who move to Mumbai to make a living, are scared and demoralised. The BJP is anxious that the opposition could exploit these isolated incidents to undermine the NDA in the upcoming elections. The BJP central leadership 'must take this matter seriously,' said a party leader from Bihar. Sources in Delhi revealed the Maharashtra government has been asked to urgently tackle the 'hooliganism'. 'Party workers in Maharashtra also have a responsibility to act against those who target non-Marathi speakers, as this could also raise questions about the BJP government's policy on linguistic freedom,' said a source.
Hans India
a day ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Uddhav cribbed about losing power, Raj's statement absurd: Maha minister's swipe at joint rally
Maharashtra minister Ashish Shelar dismissed the speeches of Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and MNS chief Raj Thackeray during their joint rally on Saturday as irrelevant, diversionary and vague. Speaking to reporters on Sunday, the Mumbai BJP chief also took a swipe at the Thackeray brothers for trying to hard sell their own agenda and narrative under the premise of opposing 'imposition' of Hindi language in the state. 'Thackeray brothers boasted and bragged about their coming together for the Marathi pride, but the real purpose was to sell their own narrative and further their own political agenda,' Ashish Shelar said. He added that the speeches of the two leaders at the joint rally were more of political posturing than substance. "The things that Raj Thackeray mentioned in his speech were incomplete and irrelevant. He was trying to set his own narrative of browbeating the immigrants from other states and also justifying it while Uddhav was seen complaining and crying about being ousted from power," Shelar stated. Taking exception to Raj Thackeray's statement that non-Marathi-speaking people should be beaten up but a video of it should not be made, the BJP called it absolutely absurd and reprehensible. "Such statements are very painful. I am very hurt by such utterances," he said. Ashish Shelar further lent support to the Centre's three-language policy and said that such politicking must be avoided on issues of national importance. 'They ask that in which states the three-language formula was implemented. I want to tell them that 20 states have adopted the three-language formula. Raj Thackeray opposes it for the children of Mumbai, but he never opposed it for his own children. This is injustice," he remarked. He said that the three-language policy facilitates children to study in their mother tongue, but these leaders want to deprive them of this opportunity. On the reunion of the Thackeray brothers, he said that it was good to see two brothers coming together, and their families would also be happy with this development; however, it's for them to decide whether they will contest elections together or separately.
India Today
2 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Businessman's office attacked after refusing to learn Marathi, daring Raj Thackeray
MNS workers on Saturday threw stones and vandalised the office of Kedionomics, whose owner, Sushil Kedia, had earlier issued an open dare to Raj Thackeray, stating that he would not be intimidated by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) workers or be forced to learn Marathi under the video, a few MNS workers are seen throwing stones at the main glass-door entrance of a co-working space that houses Kedia's office, disregarding the security guards. Once the shutters were finally drawn, the workers began chanting, "Jai Maharashtra."advertisementMeanwhile, the police said that it had detained five MNS workers in connection with the incident. 'I don't know Marathi properly even after living for 30 years in Mumbai, and with your gross misconduct, I have made it a resolve that until such people as you are allowed to pretend to be taking care of Marathi Manus, I take pratigya I won't learn Marathi. Kya karna hai bol?', he had written on X earlier. Earlier today, Kedia said that he had tweeted "under stress" following the recent spate of attacks on non-Marathi-speaking people in Mumbai by MNS workers."Attacks that have happened in the recent past have pushed me to tweet this," he said on his profile, adding that his earlier message was being "manipulated to suit the ones who want to gain from the controversy." Saying that his tweet was made in "haste and stress," he admitted to overreacting, adding, "I realise my mistake and wish to correct it."Kedia further tagged the police, stating that he was receiving calls from random numbers claiming to be from the police and asking for his location to provide protection. "This appears to be a dirty operation already underway, baying for me blood," he had written.- EndsMust Watch
