Overview

• RSS leader Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi stated that it is not necessary for residents of Mumbai to learn Marathi, citing the city's linguistic diversity, including Gujarati in areas like Ghatkopar.
• The comments led to protests by Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress, and other opposition parties, who condemned the remarks as an insult to Maharashtra's linguistic and cultural identity.
• Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis reaffirmed in the state assembly that Marathi is the language of Mumbai and Maharashtra, emphasizing that all residents should learn and respect it.
• Joshi later clarified his remarks, stating they were misconstrued and reaffirming Marathi as Mumbai's language while acknowledging the city's multilingual coexistence.
• Opposition leaders, including Uddhav Thackeray, demanded legal action against Joshi, accusing the BJP-RSS alliance of undermining Marathi pride and pursuing divisive agendas.