Sanjay Dutt refuses to speak Marathi in front of Shiv Sena minister: BJP MLA asks - 'Why pressure only on auto drivers?'

Amid the ongoing controversy over Marathi language in Maharashtra, Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt refused to speak in Marathi. "I could not learn Marathi even when I was in Yerawada jail for 6 years," he said at the Dahi Handi event held in Mumbai on Sunday. Controversy over his statement at the Dahi Handi event The event was organized by Shiv Sena (Shinde group) leader and Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik in Thane. Sanjay Dutt was speaking in Hindi on the stage. On this, the minister asked him to speak in Marathi, but the 67-year-old actor refused to do so in a humorous manner. On this, BJP MLA Narendra Mehta took a dig at Pratap Sarnaik and said, "Auto drivers are forced to speak Marathi." 'Let's talk to Sanjay Dutt in Marathi' When Sanjay Dutt and Pratap Sarnaik were standing on the stage, the minister said, "Nowadays I am teaching Marathi to everyone. So I thought, why don't we all talk to Sanjay Dutt in Marathi. He speaks in Hindi, but we all understand Marathi." After this, Sanjay Dutt took the microphone and first chanted "Har Har Mahadev". Then he said in a humorous manner, 'Pratap bhai, I was in jail for 6 years, in Yerawada. Even then I could not learn Marathi. I learnt a little.' BJP MLA targets Shiv Sena minister BJP MLA Narendra Mehta questioned Pratap Sarnaik over Sanjay Dutt's statement. "If an artist doesn't know Marathi, you laugh at him, but on the other hand, ordinary rickshaw pullers are forced to speak Marathi. What kind of justice is this? Eknath Shinde has never let them do anything. There is a need for a dummy minister, so he is there." At the rally, Sanjay Dutt was pushed by a man, the actor grabbed his hand and pulled him away. After staying on the stage for some time, Sanjay Dutt started leaving with his team. As he was getting off, a man quickly pushed him and passed by. Sanjay Dutt did not ignore him and grabbed the man's hand and pulled him towards him. As soon as the man saw that it was Sanjay Dutt, he immediately apologized. Trolled on social media for not speaking Marathi A discussion started on social media after Sanjay Dutt refused to speak Marathi. One user wrote, "Only Sanjay Dutt or Salman Khan can say no to a minister like this and still laugh." One user wrote, "The meaning is clear, Marathi language being compulsory is only for auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers in the city, not for big people." One user said, "Look at the irony, I wish the auto drivers in the city could have said the same and avoided heavy fines." One said, "You have lived in Maharashtra all your life, but you don't know Marathi. This is shameful." Sanjay Dutt's statements and dialogues, which sparked controversy 1. 2009: Statement on TADA at election rally During the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, Sanjay Dutt was campaigning for the Samajwadi Party. During an election rally in Mau, Uttar Pradesh, he referred to his father Sunil Dutt and mother Nargis, and spoke about the action taken against him after the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts. Sanjay Dutt said that his mother was a Muslim and that is why his family was harassed. He also mentioned the action taken against him under TADA. There was a controversy over this statement and the Election Commission also took note of the matter. Sanjay Dutt's statement was seen as a communal reference in the election campaign. 2. 2016: Salman Khan calls Salman Khan 'arrogant' The friendship between Sanjay Dutt and Salman Khan has been one of the most talked about friendships in Bollywood. In 2016, during an event, when Sanjay Dutt was asked to describe Salman Khan in one word and he said 'arrogant', this answer came into the limelight. There was speculation of a rift between the two in the media. However, Sanjay Dutt later clarified that there was no quarrel between him and Salman. 3. 2026: Controversy over dialogue of 'Dhurandhar' The Baloch community objected to a dialogue of Sanjay Dutt's character SP Chaudhary Aslam in the film 'Dhurandhar'. That part was muted in the theatrical release version after the controversy.