Uddhav Thackeray-led shiv sena UBT on saturday night allegedly vandalized a metal artwork in Gujarati
language in Ghatkopar and replaced it with a Marathi signboard. Locals had put up a board with the phrase Maru
Ghatkopar (My Ghatkopar) in Gujarati inside a garden in Ghatkopar East. The army UBT cadre destroyed it and
replaced it with jai Maharashtra and Majha maharashtra (My Maharashtra).
Where did this controversy start?
The move comes days after a Gujarati vs Marathi controversy broke out in the Mulund area, when Trupti
Deorukhkar, a Marathi woman, was allegedly refused premises by a society largely occupied by people from
Gujarat. . Meanwhile, the police have removed the newly installed board on Sunday.
Marathi Vs Gujarati in Gujarat
Efforts to create a rift between Marathi and Gujaratis ahead of the elections gained momentum on sunday when
shiv sena (UBT) members destroyed a Gujarati board in Ghatkopar (East). The triangular traffic junction was
beautified in 2016 by the then local corporator praveen Chheda of the BJP, and a large signboard "Maru
Ghatkopar (My Ghatkopar) in Gujarati was installed on one side.
FIR registered
Raj Thackeray-led maharashtra navnirman sena (MNS) was the first to object to the use of Gujarati, while
Ghatkopar (East) has a predominantly Gujarati population. A warning was also given of action if the Gujarati
board was not removed. Before MNS could take action, Shiv Sainiks (UBT) destroyed the signage on Sunday
morning. Tilak nagar police has registered an FIR. Incidentally, Ghatkopar (East) MLA, BJP's Parag Shah is a
Gujarati.
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