MNS chief Raj Thackeray has strongly criticized Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar over the manner in which he read out the condolence resolution for legendary singer Asha Bhosle in the Assembly.
Asha Bhosle, whose evergreen songs made her an immortal figure in Indian music, passed away a few days ago. Tributes poured in from across the country following her demise.
Since this was the first session of the legislature after her passing, a condolence motion was moved in the Assembly, which was read out by Speaker Rahul Narwekar in which he said, Din Dayal Mangeshkar to Dinanath Mangeshkar, father of Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle.
Reacting to the episode, Raj Thackeray expressed anger over what he described as Narwekar’s incorrect pronunciation and references while reading the Marathi text.
He said that while presenting the condolence resolution for Padma Vibhushan Asha Bhosle, Narwekar “butchered the Marathi language” and appeared unable to properly read even the Marathi text written before him.
“I felt both anger and disgust watching it. Had he eaten bhel from the paper before reading it?” Thackeray remarked sarcastically.
He further said that it would have made little difference if the resolution had been read in Swahili or Hebrew, because, according to him, Narwekar’s Marathi was equally incomprehensible. Thackeray also pointed out that Narwekar allegedly referred to legendary theatre and music personality Deenanath Mangeshkar as “Deendayal Mangeshkar” during the reading.
Calling it another tragedy, Thackeray questioned why none of the MLAs present in the House objected to the mistakes. He also took a swipe at the BJP, saying Narwekar seemed unfamiliar with both Deenanath Mangeshkar and Deendayal Upadhyaya.
Referring to the BJP’s induction of leaders from other parties, he said the Speaker’s situation reflected the Marathi saying that one can lose everything while gaining nothing.
Raj Thackeray also questioned the silence of senior legislators who were likely present in the Assembly during the condolence motion. He wondered whether Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was present at the time and said that even if he had been there, he doubted it would have made any difference.
Targeting Fadnavis, Thackeray said that someone who often sings songs such as “Gulabi Aankhen Jo Teri Dekhi” should have understood the significance of paying tribute to a personality of Asha Bhosle’s stature. He further alleged that the government’s focus remained on political defections and power politics, while even a condolence motion had been reduced to a mere formality.
Thackeray also questioned whether the current generation, as well as future generations who would watch the recorded proceedings, would not notice such mistakes. He asked whether Fadnavis would remind the Speaker that being educated alone is not enough and that wisdom and sensitivity are equally important.
The MNS chief did not spare Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde either. He remarked sarcastically that Shinde had little to do with the issue because his “aircraft of Marathi language studies is flying at faraway” suggesting that the Deputy CM was far removed from concerns related to Marathi language and culture.
Concluding his criticism, Raj Thackeray questioned how the Maharashtra Assembly could be expected to protect or promote Marathi when its Speaker, according to him, could not properly read Marathi text placed before him.
He also raised concerns about what action such a House could take against the perceived erosion of the Marathi language.
