Raj Thackeray, the chief of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), stated that people should not interpret history through the lens of caste and religion. He emphasized that the socio-political landscape was significantly different before and after the era of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Addressing demands to remove Mughal emperor Aurangzeb’s tomb from Maharashtra, Raj Thackeray’s criticized those bringing up such topics, accusing them of attempting to stir communal tensions. He urged people to refrain from relying on WhatsApp for historical knowledge.
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Referring to the Bollywood movie Chhava, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray expressed his disapproval of people who develop a newfound sense of Hindu pride solely after watching a film. He remarked that such individuals are of little significance if their awareness about historical figures arises only from cinema. Thackeray questioned whether people had learned about the immense sacrifice of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj only because actor Vicky Kaushal portrayed a historical role or if their understanding of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb was solely due to Akshaye Khanna’s depiction. He implied that true historical knowledge should come from proper education and research rather than relying on movies for awakening a sense of history and identity.
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Raj Thackeray’s Critique of Superficial Hindu Pride
MNS chief Raj Thackeray urged people not to view history through the lens of caste and religion, emphasizing the stark differences between pre-Shivaji and post-Shivaji eras. He criticized the focus on Aurangzeb’s tomb, stating that history should highlight how the Marathas defeated their oppressors rather than erasing the past. Thackeray warned against relying on WhatsApp for historical knowledge and urged people to read real history books. He also condemned those who provoke communal tensions for political gain.
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MNS chief Raj Thackeray stated that religion should remain a personal matter, criticizing Hindus for uniting only during communal tensions while otherwise remaining divided by caste. He claimed that the BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP government would scrap their Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin scheme, as they have failed to implement the promised increase in financial aid for women. Thackeray also insisted that Marathi must be mandatory for official use in Maharashtra, warning those who refuse to speak it. In response, BJP spokesperson Ali Daruwala dismissed his remarks, calling them baseless, and reaffirmed CM Devendra Fadnavis’ support for Marathi as the state language.
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