Raj Thackeray Calls for Halt to Marathi Language Agitation in Nationalized Banks
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Synopsis
Raj Thackeray, chief of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, has urged party members to stop their agitation for Marathi in banks and corporations, emphasizing the need for government action to respect the language.
Key Takeaways
- Raj Thackeray calls for a pause in agitation.
- Emphasized the importance of the Marathi language.
- Highlighted the government's responsibility in enforcing Reserve Bank rules.
- Encouraged Marathi people to advocate for their language.
- Addressed objections from banking experts and unions.
Mumbai, April 5 (NationPress) The chief of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), Raj Thackeray, on Saturday instructed party members to cease their agitation for the time being after they began fervently advocating for the Marathi identity ahead of municipal elections in the state, which includes major banks and corporations in cities such as Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Nashik, and Nagpur.
This communication to party members followed a warning from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who stated that any actions taken by individuals to impose their demands regarding the use of Marathi will be met with zero tolerance.
“I commend you for vocally advocating for the Marathi language in Maharashtra. I had previously urged you at the Gudi Padwa rally to check if transactions in banks were being conducted in Marathi, and if not, to notify the bank's management. Following that, you promptly visited banks across Maharashtra to insist on the use of Marathi, which effectively demonstrated that the Marathi language and its speakers cannot be overlooked and showcased the organizational strength of the MNS,” stated the MNS chief.
However, he indicated that the responsibility now lies with the state government, emphasizing that it should ensure that banks and institutions honor the Marathi language.
“The government bears a significant duty. They are aware of the Reserve Bank regulations, and it is now their obligation to enforce these rules. The Chief Minister has asserted that we will not allow anyone to take the law into their own hands. We share this sentiment, yet if you are the enforcer of the law, shouldn’t you be implementing the Reserve Bank guidelines? You must compel banks and other organizations to respect Marathi; only then will we refrain from taking matters into our own hands,” he asserted.
He further urged his supporters: “Pause the agitation now, as we have sufficiently raised awareness about these matters and have demonstrated the potential consequences of inaction. It is now up to the Marathi people to advocate for this cause. If our Marathi community has retreated on the use of the Marathi language in Maharashtra, then why should we continue these agitations?”
Raj Thackeray’s appeal to halt the agitation comes on the heels of significant objections raised by various banking professionals and unions.
