Overview

• Samajwadi Party Maharashtra chief and MLA Abu Azmi declined to answer reporters in Marathi in Bhiwandi, asking what the need was to use the regional language and querying the difference between Marathi and Hindi.
• The exchange occurred during his visit to oppose the widening of Kalyan Road in Bhiwandi, a town with a substantial Muslim population.
• Azmi said a Marathi byte would not reach audiences in Delhi or Uttar Pradesh, a remark that prompted a sharp response from the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena and criticism from leaders of BJP and Shiv Sena.
• MNS’s Paresh Chaudhary warned Azmi to respect Marathi, and NCP (SP) MP Suresh Mhatre urged speaking the local language, noting many Bhiwandi Muslims use Marathi as well as Hindi.
• Azmi later said his comments were taken out of context, claimed he respects Marathi and used it briefly, and also defended Muslim public expression in the ongoing ‘I Love Muhammad’ row, while critics demanded action and no official steps were announced.