In a sharp political rebuttal, Trinamool Congress leader Mazid Memon has fiercely criticized Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray over his recent provocative statements pitting Marathi people against non-Marathis. Memon labeled the divisive rhetoric as blatantly unconstitutional, urging a return to inclusive nationalism.
Thackeray’s comments, delivered during a public rally in Mumbai, reignited long-standing debates on regional identity and migration. He accused non-Marathi migrants of encroaching on local jobs and cultural spaces, calling for stricter measures to prioritize ‘sons of the soil.’ This stance echoes the MNS’s historical agitation against North Indian workers, which once led to violent clashes across the state.
Responding swiftly, Memon, a prominent TMC voice in Maharashtra, took to social media and public forums to dismantle Thackeray’s narrative. ‘Such Marathi versus non-Marathi thinking is not just regressive but squarely against the spirit of India’s Constitution,’ he declared. Memon emphasized Article 19, which guarantees freedom of movement and residence across the country, arguing that Thackeray’s position undermines the federal fabric of the nation.
The TMC leader further accused Thackeray of playing vote-bank politics ahead of upcoming civic polls. ‘This is a desperate attempt to revive a fading regionalist agenda. Maharashtra thrives on its diversity—Gujaratis, Marwaris, Biharis, and Tamilians have all contributed to Mumbai’s global stature,’ Memon pointed out, citing economic data on migrant labor’s role in the state’s GDP.
Political analysts see this exchange as a microcosm of broader tensions in India’s urban centers, where rapid urbanization fuels nativist sentiments. Thackeray’s MNS, once a force in Maharashtra politics, has struggled post-2014, winning zero seats in the 2019 assembly elections. Memon’s intervention highlights TMC’s growing outreach beyond Bengal, positioning it as a defender of constitutional values.
As the controversy simmers, civil society groups have called for dialogue over division. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s administration remains silent, but opposition parties like Congress and NCP are monitoring closely. Memon concluded his critique with a unifying message: ‘India’s strength lies in unity, not in building walls between communities.’ This clash underscores the perennial challenge of balancing regional pride with national integration in diverse states like Maharashtra.