'Political Motive Behind Appeal?' BJP's Chitra Wagh Slams Actor Renuka Shahane's Plea to Voters

BJP leader Chitra Wagh criticised actor Renuka Shahane’s recent appeal to voters, questioning the timing of the plea and labelling it political. (X @ChitraKWagh)

BJP leader Chitra Wagh criticised actor Renuka Shahane’s recent appeal to voters, questioning the timing of the plea and labelling it political.

Shahane had recently urged people to vote wisely and not support candidates who disrespect the Marathi language, following a LinkedIn post by a company that excluded Marathi-speaking candidates. Taking to her official X account, Shahane wrote in Marathi: “Please don’t vote for people who say Marathi ‘not welcome’. Please don’t give your valuable votes to candidates who support people who don’t give houses to Marathi people.”

Expressing her admiration for Shahane’s work since her television show ‘Surabhi,’ where she showcased India’s diverse languages, traditions, and cultures, Wagh said she was disappointed by her recent comment.

Wagh raised concerns about the potential political motives behind Shahane’s tweet and condemned any discrimination against Marathi individuals in housing or employment.

“Is there a political motive behind the timing of your tweet to appeal to Marathi voters? This could be a subject of investigation. Anyway, if a person is denied a house and a job because he is Marathi, I condemn it,” Wagh said.

Without directly mentioning Shahane’s husband, actor Ashutosh Rana, who is non-Marathi, Wagh emphasised the importance of respecting all languages and cautioned against using language solely for political gain.

“I repeat, Marathi language should be respected but should not be used only for political purposes. Language connects people, be it Marathi or Hindi. And who can say it better than you? Because we have respected other languages while choosing a spouse.”

Highlighting the importance of unity in diversity and nationalistic sentiments, Wagh stressed the need to honour and respect the Marathi language, while also mentioning the presence of Marathi families in diverse communities like Ghatkopar.

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