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MNS calls off “andolan”

Raj Thackeray

Mumbai: After a five-day offensive on actor Jaya Bachchan for her alleged anti-Marathi remarks, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has called off its “andolan” following Amitabh Bachchan’s statement on Wednesday.

“Amitabh Bachchan apologised, so I declare that we withdraw our andolan. I have asked my workers to maintain peace. Now you have seen what happens when Marathi ‘manoos’ [people] are united. Actually, Jaya Bachchan should have apologised, but we accept Mr. Bachchan’s apology as the head of the family. This is a victory for Marathi people,” MNS leader Raj Thackeray told journalists here on Thursday.

At a function here last Saturday, Ms. Bachchan said “We are from Uttar Pradesh and should speak in Hindi.”

Referring to reports of vandalism at multiplexes in the city even after Mr. Bachchan explained his stand on his blog, Mr. Thackeray said it was “not a newspaper or a television channel” and therefore his apology did not fall in the public domain. However, his press conference cleared the air.

At the press conference on Wednesday evening, Mr. Bachchan said if Ms. Bachchan had inadvertently hurt the sentiments of even one Marathi, then she should apologise.

Referring to the stature of Mr. Bachchan, cricketer Sachin Tendulkar and singer Lata Mangeshkar, Mr. Thackeray said their fame spread beyond national boundaries and people all over the world watched them. So, someone like Mr. Bachchan should not circumscribe himself by “regional boundaries.”

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