Marathi is music to his ears. Every single migrant residing in Maharashtra should learn to speak Marathi, he says.
MNS chief’s lawyer argued in English, Magistrate while granting bail referred to him as ‘resident of Bombay’
MUMBAI: Marathi is music to his ears. Every single migrant residing in Maharashtra should learn to speak Marathi, he says. But Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray had to withstand ‘jarring’ English words flying thick and fast as he waited for his bail at the metropolitan magistrate’s court in Vikhroli on Wednesday.
Recently, Raj admonished a journalist for calling the city, Bombay. He told him that no such place existed on the Indian map. “The name of the city is Mumbai,” he said sternly to the scribe.
Wednesday, however, he could do nothing as the city was referred to as Bombay again and again. Magistrate Sunil Sharma, while granting him conditional bail, said, “He (Raj) is a permanent resident of Bombay and there is no chance that he will leave the city.” The MNS chief just heard it out in silence.
Initially though, the courtroom exchanges were in Marathi. When police produced Raj before Magistrate Sharma, the latter asked him in Marathi, “Did the police trouble you?” Raj replied in negative.
Assistant public prosecutor Ashok Bansode argued in Marathi, seeking police custody for the MNS chief. But it was Raj’s own lawyer, Ashok Mundargi, who broke the language code, arguing in English that there was no need for police custody; his client should be released as he had committed no offence. Ironically, Mundargi is fluent in Marathi.
The courtroom was packed with law-yers, court staff and media people. Lawyer MK Mohite was there eager to see Mundargi in action. “He is famous for his to-the-point arguments. I wanted to observe his style,” said Mohite.
And, of course, there were young women lawyers and staff drooling over Raj. Preeti, a young lawyer, was so overwhelmed that she clicked his photo with her cellphone. Looking at the captured image, she gushed, “He is so smart!” As Raj was leaving the court, many of his fans rushed out to shake hands with him.
Many MNS supporters were waiting outside the court to cheer Raj.
Some young residents of Kannamawar Nagar perched themselves on nearby treetops just to catch a glimpse of their popular leader.
t_kiran@dnaindia.net
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