Raj Thackeray makes major allegations against BJP over Bhojpuri songs and Chhath Puja at Mumbai railway stations

Politics in Maharashtra has heated up over the issue of playing Bhojpuri songs at Mumbai railway stations ahead of Chhath Puja. According to reports from NDTV India, Aaj Tak, and The Hindu, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray has launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over this matter. He alleges that the BJP is deliberately trying to incite conflict between different communities in Mumbai and Maharashtra. Before the Chhath Puja festival, songs of Chhath Maiya were played at some railway stations in Mumbai, which caused a controversy and led to protests by some organizations. This entire sequence of events has heated up the politics of Maharashtra.

Expressing his views on this issue on social media, MNS chief Raj Thackeray claimed that this entire controversy is being created keeping in mind the upcoming assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh. The elections in Uttar Pradesh are expected to be held early next year. According to Raj Thackeray, the BJP and its associated social media system are trying to spread communal and cultural hysteria in Maharashtra. Reels are being posted on social media that portray this puja as an attack on Maharashtra's culture. He stated that an attempt was made to play Bhojpuri music at some railway stations in Mumbai, which was immediately stopped by the MNS.

Raj Thackeray has alleged that the BJP cannot win elections on the basis of its work, and that is why it wants to reap political benefits by causing fights between castes and communities. Giving an example, he stated that a Hindu-Muslim controversy is created during the Lok Sabha elections, while efforts are made to increase differences between various castes during the assembly elections. In this context, he also mentioned the controversy created between the Gujarati and Marathi communities over the issue of 'kabutar khana' (pigeon feeding spots) during the Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections last year. He says that the BJP's political self-interest is hidden behind such conflicts.

The MNS chief has made a special appeal to the Marathi people, telling them not to fall into the trap of such issues set by the BJP. Referring to Chhatrapati Maharaj's guerrilla warfare tactics, he stated that the Marathi society should decide its own strategy. The decision on when, whom, and how to respond will be taken at the right time. Along with this, he has also warned and appealed to the North Indian and Gujarati communities not to go against the Marathi people for anyone's political gain. He alleged that some people want to serve their own interests by making these two communities fight and are trying to damage the cultural heritage of Maharashtra.

Continuing his statement, Raj Thackeray also raised the issue of Maharashtra's land, forests, and the Sahyadri mountain range. He alleged that the state's natural resources are being handed over to a particular industrialist, and the citizens of the state need to be more aware of this. He urged the BJP to stop creating disputes at the religious, caste, and state levels and do something new. The MNS chief also emphasized in his statement that the people and soldiers of Maharashtra should always remain alert, and they will take the right decision at the right time. According to The Hindu report, he also mentioned a journey inspired by the 'Gen Z' movement to remove the BJP from power at both the central and state levels and claimed that this change is inevitable.