Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray has come under sharp criticism from political and community leaders in Gujarat, including the Congress, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), and Patidar groups, for his controversial comments on Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and former Prime Minister Morarji Desai.
The backlash follows Thackeray’s speech at a rally in Thane, Maharashtra, on Friday, where he questioned the national response to incidents involving migrants. He alleged that when migrants from Bihar were “beaten up and driven out” of Gujarat, the issue did not attract national attention, while a “minor” incident in Maharashtra became a national controversy. He also accused Sardar Patel and Morarji Desai of having an anti-Marathi stance in the post-independence era. The comments have triggered an uproar in Gujarat, with demands for legal action and even a ban on Thackeray’s entry into the state.
Political leaders demand FIR, ban on Thackeray
Amit Chavda, the newly appointed Gujarat Congress president, reacted strongly to Thackeray's remarks. “Speaking against Sardar Saheb is like throwing dust in front of the sun. If you do politics on Gujarat’s soil, you will get a fitting reply,” he warned.
Echoing similar sentiments, AAP’s Gujarat president Isudan Gadhvi condemned Thackeray for targeting Patel. “Your politics is failing, so you’ve resorted to insulting not just Gujaratis but a national icon like Sardar Patel,” he said. Gadhvi urged Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and BJP state president C.R. Paatil to file an FIR against the MNS leader. “Sardar Patel united 565 princely states to create a united India. When he died, he had only ₹261 in his account. Yet some Maharashtra leaders are using derogatory language to further their political agenda,” Gadhvi added.
Also Read: Marathi language row: MNS leaders, workers detained in Thane
Patidar leaders launch legal offensive
Several Patidar leaders have joined the protest, demanding legal action against Thackeray. In Morbi city, Patidar leader Manoj Panara filed a petition with the police, seeking the registration of a sedition case and a ban on Thackeray’s entry into Gujarat. “We strongly condemn his statements about Sardar Saheb and former Prime Minister Morarji Desai. We will approach courts and authorities to take strict legal action,” Panara stated.
Alpesh Kathiria, another prominent Patidar leader, said Thackeray had no right to insult national icons. “Such remarks are unacceptable and must be condemned,” he said. Lalji Patel, president of the Sardar Patel Group, and Manoj Panara, who also leads the Patidar Yuva Sangh, have also voiced their outrage. Both leaders accused Thackeray of harboring an anti-Gujarati mindset.
“Raj Thackeray will never be accepted as a national leader unless he changes his divisive stance against people from other states,” said Lalji Patel. In recent weeks, tensions have been rising in Maharashtra, where MNS employees are allegedly targeting non-Marathi speakers. As the party stepped up its demands that all Maharashtra residents learn Marathi, several shopkeepers were attacked for failing to respond in the language.
The political rift has grown wider as a result of Thackeray's most recent comments, which have sparked intense responses from Gujarat's political and social spectrum. The controversy is not going to go away anytime soon, as calls for a formal case and a ban on his entry continue to grow.
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