Sanjay Dutt was joking about not being able to learn Marathi, Maharashtra minister Pratap Sarnaik from BJP ally Shiv Sena asserted on Thursday, claiming the actor called him to clarify his statement at a recent event in Thane.
Dutt’s remark came in the backdrop of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s Sena running a drive for autorickshaw drivers, a large number of them migrants from Hindi-speaking states, to learn Marathi compulsorily. Dutt has not directly spoken on the issue yet.
A note from Sarnaik’s office said Dutt called the minister and spoke to him in Marathi, “beginning with ‘Pratap bhai, Jai Maharashtra'”. Dutt also told him he knows Marathi well. He apologised if his remark sent the wrong message, a note from Sarnaik’s office said. Sanjay Dutt’s “joke” — that he could not learn Marathi even after spending time in the Yerwada jail (on charges related to illegal arms and ammunition) — came at a Dahi Handi event organised by Transport Minister Sarnaik’s Sanskruti Yuva Pratishthan, where several celebrities, including actor Suniel Shetty and cricketer Suryakumar Yadav, were present.
On Thursday, Dutt said in the call to Sarnaik that his family was Mumbaikar, he grew up on its soil, and that Maharashtra had given him a great deal, as per Sarnaik’s office. The Opposition also entered the scene with the Congress alleging that the Sena has been playing politics over the language issue without actually doing anything to promote it.
The note added that Dutt also remembered Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray’s help “during their difficult times”.
