shot-button
E-paper E-paper
Home > News > India News > Article > Maharashtra BJP Shiv Sena at loggerheads over construction of Urdu learning centre in Mumbai

Maharashtra: BJP, Shiv Sena at loggerheads over construction of Urdu learning centre in Mumbai

Updated on: 19 December,2023 07:41 PM IST  |  Nagpur
mid-day online correspondent |

Maharashtra MLAs of the ruling BJP and Shiv Sena were at loggerheads on Tuesday over the construction of an Urdu learning centre in Mumbai

Maharashtra: BJP, Shiv Sena at loggerheads over construction of Urdu learning centre in Mumbai

Representational Pic/File

Key Highlights

  1. MLAs of the ruling BJP and Shiv Sena were at loggerheads on Tuesday
  2. They were at loggerheads on Tuesday over the construction of an Urdu learning centre
  3. An Urdu learning centre`s construction has been planned in south Mumbai

Maharashtra MLAs of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiv Sena were at loggerheads on Tuesday over the construction of an Urdu learning centre in the Agripada area of south Mumbai, reported the PTI.


According to the PTI, BJP MLA Mihir Kotecha raised the issue of the Urdu learning centre in a calling attention motion in the legislative assembly, and accusing the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) dispensation of indulging in appeasement politics.


"The previous Shiv Sena UBT government had started to see green everywhere, and in a bid to appease a particular minority community, it forced the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to construct the centre instead of the originally planned industrial training institute (ITI)," Mihir Kotecha said, demanding the construction of an ITI, as per the PTI.


Cabinet Minister Uday Samant said the decision has already been challenged in the Bombay High Court, and as per the order from the chief secretary, the work has been halted.

The BJP MLAs, however, continued to raise the issue, claiming that the previous government had indulged in appeasement politics.

Samajwadi Party (SP) MLA Rais Shaikh pointed out that it was Shiv Sena MLA Yamini Jadhav who had first moved the proposal to set up the Urdu learning centre, and every procedure was followed while going ahead with the plan, according to the news agency.

BJP MLA Nitish Rane demanded that officials who gave land for the centre be suspended.

He also claimed that the Agripada area already had Urdu schools, which students did not attend.

Responding to the allegation, MLA Jadhav said, "There is already an ITI in my constituency. What we are building is not an Urdu school but a centre. It is a language like any other in the country and should not be linked to a particular religion. People in my constituency had demanded such a centre, and based on that, I had proposed the same."

Following Jadhav's clarification, Skill Development Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha said that the issue should not be blown out of proportion, as the chief secretary has already stayed the construction following a court case.

(with PTI inputs)

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!

Register for FREE
to continue reading !

This is not a paywall.
However, your registration helps us understand your preferences better and enables us to provide insightful and credible journalism for all our readers.

Mid-Day Web Stories

Mid-Day Web Stories

This website uses cookie or similar technologies, to enhance your browsing experience and provide personalised recommendations. By continuing to use our website, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. OK