Date:11/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/11/stories/2008091155451200.htm

National

BJP slams Jaya’s remark

Special Correspondent

MUMBAI: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday echoed the views of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and said actor Jaya Bachchan’s remarks were inappropriate.

Speaking to the press here, BJP national general secretary Gopinath Munde said that while Hindi was the national language, there was no need to insult Marathi. Why did Ms. Bachchan have to specify she was going to speak in Hindi because she was from Uttar Pradesh, Mr. Munde asked. She had insulted Marathi, he added.

Mr. Munde said the ruling Congress-NCP alliance was tacitly supporting the MNS in a bid to weaken the Shiv Sena. In this one aspect they were together, he said.