Mumbai: MNS chief Raj Thackeray's diktat to MLAs to take oath "only in Marathi" or face his party's wrath, may see the enfant terrible of state politics facing a breach of privilege move.
"A member of the House can take oath in any of the around 15 notified languages. No one can dictate to a member in which language he or she should take oath," a senior Vidhan Bhawan official told PTI.
"All it would take is a member or members to approach the Speaker and the presiding officer would not think twice before admitting the notice of breach of privilege of the House and its members," the official said.
"On earlier occasions, members have taken oath in Hindi, Gujarati, Urdu, Sanskrit and English, besides Marathi," the official said. The 289th member of the House, who represents Anglo-Indian community, takes oath in English.
"No one objected when some Maharashtra MPs took oath in the Lok Sabha in Marathi. Who is Raj to force MLAs to choose a language," a Samajwadi Party functionary said.
"If any legislator has a problem with Marathi, we provide translation of House proceedings in Hindi or English," a former presiding officer said.
"There is also a provision to translate in real time through headphones, a Marathi speech in English or Hindi and vice versa," he said. However, asking legislators to choose a specific language for taking oath shows the disregard of the concerned person for rules of legislative business and procedure, he said.
Raj today asked legislators in the new Assembly to take oath "only in Marathi" or face his party's ire. "The House will witness what my MLAs will do if anyone dares to take oath in other language," Raj told reporters here.
MNS has 13 MLAs in the 288-member House. Raj had recently warned Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Asim Azmi who demanded the House agenda in Hindi. "If Azmi wants the House agenda in Hindi, then he should go to Uttar Pradesh," the MNS chief said.
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Readers' comments:
Honestly, people from the rest of India should stop commenting on the Marathi manoos issue, as they know nothing about the struggle. They don't even know how relevant this is to the average Mumbaiite. If you really want to understand what is going on, make a visit to Mumbai, don't just listen to the media.
Monday, November 9, 2009 3:31 IST
Ninad, Mumbai
who gave abu azmi that much daring to speak against the marathi people? What help has he given for the people?
Thursday, November 5, 2009 0:40 IST
Gaurav, Aurangabad
This Gunda-RAJ is going too far. They were instance wherein Maharashtra MPs have taken oath in Marathi in Parliament and nobody objected. Nandkumar (Nasik), who told you in the South you are not allowed to speak Hindi or other languages? If that is the case, how come you can hear Marathi on the streets of Bangalore and Hyderabad? A very large number of Gujaratis stays and does business in Coimbatore but Tamils never object to it, or to their speaking Gujarati. Parties like the MNS should be banned from elections, they are hell-bent on breaking the unity of India.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009 22:13 IST
Gurpreet Maan, Bangalore
It is high time someone put Mr Raj Thackeray on hold. He has started blowing his trumpet repeatedly. Everyone knows the golmaal he has been doing in his building industry. Why are his children studying in English medium school when there are Marathi medium schools run by the Greater Mumbai Municipal Corporation? Is it his contention that he, as a party leader would only preach and practising what he preaches is not his cup of tea and it is for the downtrodden to follow it to the core. Wah re wah, Raj!
Tuesday, November 3, 2009 15:09 IST
sradha, mumbai
That's why we voted you to power! One step forward for the Marathi manoos, two at the back for mankind! Keep up the good work, we are proud of people like you!
Tuesday, November 3, 2009 14:35 IST
maratha, mumbai
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