Raj Thackeray again came out on the slogan of ‘Remove Lungi, Bajao Pungi’, what was this controversy after all?

Raj Thackeray considered himself the political heir of Bal Thackeray. The same Bal Thackeray who brightened his politics by giving the slogan of ‘Marathi Manush’ and established Shiv Sena in Mumbai with the help of ‘Hindutva politics’. Now when Shiv Sena is divided into two factions and Uddhav Thackeray is struggling for his survival, at such a time he has got the support of his cousin Raj Thackeray. The same Raj Thackeray who was considered to be a leader with a more fanatical, sharper statement and aggressive image than Uddhav. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Raj Thackeray has once again come to the center stage after using abusive words about Annamalai, threatening to expel the people of UP-Bihar and Hindi and raising the slogan of ‘Hatao Lungi, Bajao Pungi’. He has tried to revive the same decades-old politics due to which at one time North Indians, South Indians and even Gujaratis were targeted in Maharashtra.

Uddhav and Raj Thackeray, who have come together for the municipal elections being held in Maharashtra, held a joint rally on Sunday. Addressing the Marathi vote bank in this rally in Mumbai, Raj Thackeray said that both the brothers have come together because Mumbai is facing a serious threat. Both the leaders accused BJP of trying to ‘loot’ Mumbai and link it with Gujarat. They also claimed that properties in Mumbai and Maharashtra were being handed over to the Gautam Adani-led group. Raj Thackeray alleged that since coming to power in 2014, the Bharatiya Janata Party government has been continuously favoring Adani.

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In this last joint rally in Mumbai before the municipal elections to be held on January 15, Uddhav Thackeray said that he and Raj Thackeray have forgotten their differences for the sake of Marathi people, Hindus and Maharashtra. He and Raj Thackeray presented themselves as the only option to save Mumbai. Citing projects like Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train, he said, ‘The long term plan is to connect Mumbai with Gujarat. If BMC remains with us then they will not be able to sell the land to Adani. This is the last election of Marathi people. If they make any mistake now, they will lose the battle of Mumbai forever.

Raj Thackeray surrounded by statements

Recently, there was a lot of uproar over a statement by Annamalai, a Tamil Nadu leader who had come to campaign for BJP in Mumbai. He had said, ‘Bombay is not just a city of Maharashtra, it is not an international city.’ On this, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut had asked Eknath Shinde and Devendra Fadnavis whether they agree that Mumbai does not belong to Maharashtra? Regarding this matter, on Sunday, Uddhav Thackeray asked whether BJP wants to change the name of Mumbai to ‘Bombay’? On this, BJP had clarified that Annamalai meant something else, he just chose the wrong words.

At the same time, Raj Thackeray crossed the limits of linguistic decency while targeting Annamalai. He called Annamalai ‘Rasmalai’ and also used abusive words for her from the stage itself. He asked Annamalai, ‘What is your relation with Maharashtra? For such people, Bala Saheb used to say – remove lungi, play pungi.

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Raj Thackeray did not stop here. Referring to Hindi versus Marathi, he said, ‘People of UP and Bihar should understand that Hindi is not their language. I don’t hate any language but if you try to impose it I will kick you out. These people are coming to Maharashtra from all sides and snatching your share from you. If land and language are lost then you people will be destroyed. Today the crisis has reached your doorstep. This is the last election for Marathi man, if you lose it you will be finished.

He further said, ‘Be united for Marathi and Maharashtra. Mumbai was achieved after the sacrifice of many people. What answer will we give them? Those who have been made booth level agents should be ready and alert at 6 am on the election day. Don’t be careless, if any person comes to vote again, pick them up and throw them out.

Annamalai’s answer

Responding to Raj Thackeray’s statement, Annamalai has said, ‘Who are Aditya Thackeray and Raj Thackeray to threaten me? These people had called the meeting just to abuse me. I didn’t know I had become so important. Some people had written that if I come to Mumbai, my legs will be cut off. If I was afraid of such threats, I would have remained sitting in my village. If I say that Kamaraj is one of the biggest leaders of India, does it mean that he is not a Tamil? If I say that Mumbai is a world class city, does it mean that the people of Maharashtra did not make it? These people are just ignorant.

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What is the matter of ‘remove lungi, play pungi’?

Actually, Bal Thackeray used to be a cartoonist and journalist. In 1960, Maharashtra became a new state by separating from Gujarat. The politics of insider versus outsider was at its peak and people from every state of the country lived in Mumbai. At that time, Bal Thackeray saw the opportunity and started fanning the politics of ‘insider versus outsider’. When he formed Shiv Sena in 1966, he raised the slogan against South Indians – ‘Uthaao Lungi, Bajao Pungi.’ In this way he wanted to expel the South Indians working in the mills of Mumbai from Mumbai. His argument was that the original inhabitants i.e. Marathas have the first right on the resources of Maharashtra and Mumbai.

This talk of Bal Thackeray was not limited to just slogans. In the 1970s, Tamil and Telugu speakers were targeted in Mumbai and the targeted people identified themselves as ‘Shiv Sainiks’. The same Shiv Sainiks who used to openly admit it after assaulting someone. Udupi restaurants and even homes of South Indians were targeted. Attacks were carried out on theaters which showed Tamil, Telugu or Malayalam films. Bal Thackeray also continued to promote his ideology through articles and cartoons published in his magazine ‘Marmik’.

Bal Thackeray used to call South Indian people as ‘Yandugunda’. At first Shivsena opposed the communists in the trade unions. At the same time, Krishna Desai (Communist Party leader) was murdered and allegations were leveled against Shiv Sena. The result of all this was that people supporting the spirit of ‘Marathi Manush’ became staunch supporters of Shiv Sena. However, after 1970, Shiv Sena left the politics of opposition to South Indians and adopted the ideology of Hindutva and stood wholeheartedly in support of the Ram Mandir movement. Later, Shiv Sena also helped BJP and with its help it also brought North Indians into its fold.

What will be the benefit?

In fact, it is a challenge for Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS to save their existence in front of the strong alliance of Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena and BJP. This is also visible in the statements of Raj and Uddhav Thackeray, when they call this BMC election ‘the last battle of Marathas’. After the weak performance in the 2024 assembly elections, the BMC elections are the last battle for both Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS to keep themselves strong. Shiv Sena has been in control of BMC for a long time but now Shiv Sena has split and has distanced itself from the ruling NDA.

On the other hand, Eknath Shinde led Shiv Sena is not only in power but is also fighting the BMC elections along with BJP. In such a situation, Uddhav Thackeray’s claim of ‘real Shiv Sena’ is also at stake. Uddhav Thackeray was ahead in the Lok Sabha elections and Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena was ahead in the assembly elections. However, the real identity of Shiv Sena was formed from BMC, hence this election is being seen as it will decide who is the ‘real Shiv Sena’.

How did Bombay become Mumbai?

At present, there is talk about the name of Mumbai also. The current name Mumbai is made up of two words Mumba and Aai. Aai means mother and Mumba means Mumba Devi, revered by the Kolis and other people of Mumbai city. This name was in discussion even before it was officially used and was used by many people.

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Shiv Sena had been opposing the name ‘Bombay’ or ‘Bombay’ for a long time. In 1995, when Shiv Sena’s Manohar Joshi became the Chief Minister, Bal Thackeray saw an opportunity. At the same time the name of Bombay was changed to Mumbai.

constantly trying to change the image

The difference between Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray is that Raj is always in aggressive mode whereas Uddhav Thackeray has been a leader with a gentle image. While Uddhav ran the government with BJP, he also became the Chief Minister by going with Congress and NCP. On the other hand, Raj Thackeray continued to follow his same ideology and leave alone Maharashtra, he could not strengthen the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena even in Mumbai. On the other hand, Shiv Sena (UBT) changed its image to such an extent that its candidates won even in the Muslim dominated areas of Mumbai.

In this sequence, Aditya Thackeray was once seen wearing lungi. Bal Thackeray’s grandson Aditya, who once gave the slogan of ‘Lungi Hatao, Pungi Bajao’, had tried to convey the message by seeking votes in this manner that his ideology is to take everyone along. However, now after coming together with Raj Thackeray, Shiv Sena-MNS alliance has again raised the ideology of ‘Marathi Manush’. How much will be the benefit will be known on January 16.