Women Congress MPs Gherao BJP's Nishikant Dubey Over Marathi Remarks

Mumbai: Three Lok Sabha members from Maharashtra – Prof Varsha Gaikwad, Shobha Bachhav and Pratibha Dhanorkar – cornered BJP MP Nishikant Dubey at Parliament House on Wednesday, questioning him over the remarks on Maharashtra and Marathi people. During the recent Marathi row, Dubey passed remarks, targetting leaders from Maharashtra.

City Congress chief and Mumbai North Central MP Varsha Gaikwad said, “We asked Dubey why he hates Maharashtra and Marathi people so much.” Referring to his apparent 'patak patak ke marenge' remark, she added, “We will not tolerate so much hate against our state and the people.”

Pratibha Dhanorkar, who represents Chandrapur, said, “We were looking for Dubey for the last two days. Finally, when we spotted him, we asked him why he has a grudge against the state, but he folded his hands and did not say much.”

Dubey, while talking to a news agency, had made certain comments about Marathi people, their earning capacity and how people from the northern states are running Maharashtra's economy. He had also reacted to the incidents wherein Hindi-speaking people were thrashed for not speaking Marathi. “If you come here (in northern states), we will beat you up,” Dubey had said.

The MP trio asked the BJP MP on Wednesday how he could make such unsavoury remarks against Marathis. “How can you beat up people from Maharashtra,” they asked, asserting that they will not tolerate such language against Marathi people.

The trio also raised slogans 'Jai Maharashtra', attracting the attention of other MPs from the state. Dubey reportedly told the women that they were his sisters and left the scene.