The VHP on Wednesday asked the Marathis not to oppose Hindi or any other Indian language saying it was detrimental to national integrity.
"The Vishwa Hindu Parishad ferevently appeals to the Marathis, who have fought for the interests of Hindus for four centuries, to refrain from opposing Hindi or any other Indian language, as such acts are detrimental to national integrity", VHP Secretary General Praveen Togadia said in a statement in Allahabad.
The firebrand leader's comments come in the wake of recent assault on SP MLA Abu Azmi in Maharashtra Assembly by MNS legislators for taking oath in Hindi.
However, Togadia did not spare Azmi either, casting doubts on his credentials as a champion of Hindi.
"Since when did people like Abu Azmi become champions of Hindi? Has he forgotten his roots in Azamgarh district of Uttar Pradesh, where Muslims have always practised an anti-Hindi and pro-Urdu brand of politics".
Togadia also alleged that Azmi was trying to "fragment the Hindu society by driving a wedge between Marathis and the Hindi-speaking people". PTI
