Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], January 13 : Repeating the 'Rasmalai' jibe for Bharatiya Janata Party leader K Annamalai, Shiv Sena (UBT) mouthpiece, Saamana has alleged that the Devendra Fadnavis-Eknath Shinde led government in Maharashtra had tarnished the state's image by engaging in corrupt practices and "crushing the Marathi language, culture, and its identity."
"They are engaging in corrupt politics by crushing the Marathi language, Marathi culture, and Marathi identity. Any Tom, Dick, or Harry comes to Mumbai, insults the pride of Maharashtra, and leaves, and the Marathi rulers support him. This is a terrible situation," the editorial read
Launching a pointed attack at Tamil Nadu BJP leader Annamalai, whose recent remarks drew sharp criticism from multiple leaders, the editorial said, "A beggar from Tamil Nadu, BJP leader Annamalai, appeared in Mumbai as a star campaigner for the BJP and blabbered, "Mumbai has nothing to do with Maharashtra. What connection does Mumbai have with Maharashtra?"
The editorial also repeated the 'Rasmalai' jibe, which had also been used by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray at a joint UBT-MNS rally. The editorial slammed the BJP leaders who were present when Annamalai made the remarks on Mumbai.
"When this anti-Maharashtra Rasmalai of the BJP was giving his speech on the stage, several Marathi leaders of Mumbai BJP were present on the stage, and they were not bothered by Rasmalai's venomous words," it said.
The editorial's attack comes a few days after the BJP leader said that Mumbai is an "international city, and not a city of Maharashtra," while addressing a rally in Mumbai's Dharavi and Sion Koliwada areas ahead of the upcoming BMC polls.
Alleging that the BJP has "no connection with Hindutva or Marathi identity," the Saamana editorial said that the party leaders are being "driven by greed and money."
"The BJP never had any connection with Hindutva or Marathi identity. These people, driven by greed for power and money, are openly tolerating the insult to Maharashtra. Who and where is this Annamalai from? Even a dog doesn't care about him in his own Tamil Nadu," the editorial said.
Separating Annamalai's statement from the broader politics in Tamil Nadu, Saamana said that be it DMK or AIADMK, they have never insulted Maharashtra, with the local leaders also fighting together with Tamil leaders against the mandatory three-language formula which was to be 'imposed' through the National Education Policy (NEP).
"Whether they are from the DMK or AIADMK in Tamil Nadu, all of them have fought and struggled to maintain their provincial and linguistic identity. Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra fought shoulder to shoulder against the mandatory three-language formula order, and ultimately the central government had to withdraw the mandatory three-language formula order," according to the editorial.
"Tamil Nadu politicians have never given such foolish statements like 'Rasmalai' against Maharashtra, but the BJP sent cheap leaders like Annamalai to Mumbai and made them give anti-Maharashtra statements," it added.
The controversy that erupted a few days ago has been at the forefront of the upcoming Maharashtra local body elections. The Maharashtra Election Commission has announced elections to 29 municipal corporations across the state, including the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), and the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC). Polling will be held on January 15, with counting scheduled for January 16.