Sanjay Raut Slams BJP Over Marathi Language Row, Says Comparing Protestors To Terrorists Is ‘Shameful’

Mumbai: Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut has strongly condemned BJP leader Ashish Shelar for his recent comments linking pro-Marathi protestors to terrorists involved in the Pahalgam attack, calling it a “deeply offensive” and “dangerous” comparison that exposes the BJP’s mindset.

Speaking to reporters in Mumbai, Raut said, “A few people still refuse to accept the culture and the Marathi language. If not in Maharashtra, where would the Marathi language be — in Pakistan, Bangladesh, or Nepal?”

Raut was referring to ongoing tensions surrounding recent incidents where citizens were reportedly assaulted or harassed over language use in public spaces — a controversy that has sparked political clashes in the state.

Responding to Ashish Shelar’s earlier statement, in which the BJP Mumbai president had said that “just like in Pahalgam, people here too are being attacked for their identity,” Raut fired back: “If people do a movement for any language and Ashish Shelar compares them to terrorists from Pahalgam, it’s wrong — and it shows the BJP’s mindset.”

He added that language movements are deeply rooted in democratic expression, particularly in Maharashtra, where the pride in Marathi identity has historically united communities. “Marathi is not just a language; it is the soul of this land. We don’t need lessons on nationalism from those who equate cultural assertion with terrorism,” Raut said.

Raut’s sharp remarks come amid a wider political face-off between the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the BJP, especially as civic elections in Mumbai draw near. The language issue — often a sensitive and emotional matter in Maharashtra — has again become a flashpoint for political rivalry.