Mumbai: Amid the ongoing Marathi vs Hindi and other languages debate in Maharashtra, another controversy has erupted over the latest remarks by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray. During a rally in Mira-Bhayandar, Thackeray claimed that some Gujarati traders and leaders, including Iron Man Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, had once demanded that Mumbai be separated from Maharashtra.

Referring to Acharya Atre’s book, Thackeray said he was surprised to learn that the first statement against giving Mumbai to Maharashtra had actually come from Vallabhbhai Patel. “Vallabhbhai Patel, whom we have always revered as the Iron Man and the first Home Minister of the country, had said Mumbai would not be given to Maharashtra,” he remarked.

In response to Thackeray’s statement, leaders from Gujarat have hit back and issued a warning to him about speaking against Sardar Patel, who united the nation after independence.

Furthermore, Thackeray did not stop at Sardar Patel. He further said that whenever there was an agitation in Maharashtra, former Prime Minister Morarji Desai had ordered firing on Marathi people, leading to their deaths. “These people have had their eyes on Mumbai for many years,” Thackeray added.

It is notable that Maharashtra and parts of Gujarat were separated from the erstwhile Bombay State on linguistic grounds after a major movement. The statement made during the Mira-Bhayandar rally has gone viral on social media and is drawing severe backlash among Gujarati people. DeshGujarat