A political controversy has erupted after Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray mocked former Tamil Nadu BJP president K. Annamalai at a rally in Mumbai, using derogatory language that has drawn sharp reactions from Tamil Nadu and beyond. The incident has triggered widespread condemnation and raising pointed questions over whether Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin will respond to the insult to Tamils.
What Happened?
At the rally, Thackeray referred to Annamalai as “Rasmalai” and questioned his right to speak about Maharashtra and Mumbai. Mocking the BJP leader, Thackeray said, “A few days ago, some “rasmalai” has come from Tamil Nadu to Mumbai and said that Bombay is not a Maharashtra city and there is no connection between Mumbai and Maharashtra. Who is he? And what connection do you have with Mumbai, and why did you come here? That’s why Balasaheb said ‘hatao lungi bajao pungi’.”
The remarks followed Annamalai’s earlier statement in which he reportedly said, “Bombay is not a city in Maharashtra. It is an international city.” Opposition leaders in Maharashtra took exception to the remark, interpreting it as questioning Mumbai’s place within the state.
BJP Support
BJP members from across the country have condemned the derogatory remarks. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis defended Annamalai, saying his words had been misinterpreted and exaggerated. “What Annamalai has said is true that Mumbai is an international city, but he does not mean that Mumbai is not a Maharashtra city. He wanted to say that Mumbai belongs to all people who stay here,” Fadnavis said. He added that Annamalai’s Hindi was not strong and that he may have used “Bombay” instead of “Mumbai” unintentionally, noting, “When someone corrected, it was immediately changed. Therefore, no more attention should be given to Annamalai’s statement.”
Raj Thackeray, however, linked the controversy to what he described as a broader political design, alleging that the BJP leadership was trying to weaken Maharashtra’s control over Mumbai. He said the statement was part of a larger attempt to undermine Marathi interests and insisted that the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections were crucial for protecting local decision-making.
Annamalai Response
Annamalai responded strongly to the attacks, saying he would not be intimidated by threats.
“Who are Aaditya Thackeray and Raj Thackeray to threaten me? I am proud to be a farmer’s son. They have organised meetings just to abuse me. I don’t know whether I have become that important. Some have written that they will cut my legs if I come to Mumbai. I will come to Mumbai—try cutting my legs. If I were afraid of such threats, I would have stayed in my village. If I say Kamaraj is one of India’s greatest leaders, does it mean he is no longer a Tamil? If I say Mumbai is a world-class city, does it mean Maharashtrians didn’t build it? These people are just ignorant,” he stated.
He accused Raj Thackeray and Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders of insulting Tamil identity and mocking traditional attire, calling it an attack on Tamil culture rather than on him personally. Annamalai said he was proud of his background and added that being targeted by the Thackerays was a “badge of honour.”
Will Stalin Condemn The Remarks?
In Tamil Nadu, the controversy has also triggered pointed questions about the response of the ruling DMK leadership. Several voices have asked whether Chief Minister MK Stalin, who frequently speaks about Tamil pride, language, and identity, will condemn Raj Thackeray for his remarks against Tamils.
Source: The New Indian Express
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