Aaditya Thackeray hits out at BJP over Ashish Shelar’s Pahalgam remark, calls it a “poisonous attack” on Maharashtra.(Photo credit: The Week)
On Sunday, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray lashed out at the Bharatiya Janata Party. He said that it had “malice and poison” towards Maharashtra. Thackeray’s reaction came after Maharashtra minister Ashish Shelar’s comment. The minister had made a comparison between the Marathi language row and the April 22nd terrorist attack in Pahalgam in Kashmir.
Follwing this, Aaditya Thackeray has strongly condemned BJP’s comparison. He termed it as extremely hurting and insensitive. He said, “There is plenty of poison in the BJP’s mind regarding Maharashtra. It has been three months since the attack, but where were the terrorists? Did they travel to Pakistan or integrate into the BJP?” he asked.
His comments were like adding fuel to the fire as the bitter controversy exist over increasing tensions over assaults on non-Marathi language speakers in Mumbai and other areas of the state. The controversy grew more deep after 5 Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) employees were arrested for ransacking the office of businessman Sushil Kedia in Worli. The case has been registered under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.
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Ashish Shelar stated that, “All these incidents inflict pain, suffering, and mental distress. At Pahalgam, they fired at people after inquiring about their religion. And here, people are getting assaulted just because of the language they speak.” His comment was interpreted to have indirectly attacked Uddhav and Raj Thackeray, who have joined forces recently at a rally commemorating Marathi pride.
Aaditya Thackeray has with an opinion that such comparisons are making only to defame Maharashtra and divert attention from the failure of the current government to ensure justice in the Pahalgam case. “Calling terrorists as similar to Maharashtra is not just insulting, it’s a reflection of the mindset of the BJP towards the citizens of this state,” Thackeray further said.
The controversy comes as the political heat in Maharashtra is already at its peak, with the controversy over Marathi identity beginning to raise its head again in the run-up to important elections.
ALSO READ: Sushil Kedia Issues Apology Over Marathi Language Remarks; Five Detained For Damaging Property
Sofia Babu Chacko is a journalist with over five years of experience reporting on Indian politics, crime, human rights, gender issues, and stories about marginalized communities. She believes journalism plays a crucial role in amplifying unheard voices and bringing attention to issues that truly matter. Sofia has contributed articles to The New Indian Express, Youth Ki Awaaz, and Maktoob Media. She is also a recipient of the 2025 Laadli Media Awards for gender sensitivity. Beyond the newsroom, she is a music enthusiast who enjoys singing. Connect with Sofia on X: https://x.com/SBCism
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