The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has severely criticised MNS president Raj Thackeray for his stance against Hindi saying he is indulging in vote bank politics and dividing the country.
"It is vote bank politics and Raj Thackeray will not succeed in dividing the country in the name of
opposition to Hindi language. Those humiliating the lingua franca in Maharashtra should be punished," VHP international president Ashok Singhal said at a press conference here today.
Humiliating the lingua franca is an open treason and such treacherous persons should be given the hardest punishment, Singhal demanded referring to the incident in Maharashtra Legislative Assembly where the newly elected members of the MNS disrupted oath-taking in Hindi.
He said Raj has not insulted Hindi but insulted 'Rashtrabhasha' which cannot be tolerated. He has a small identity and trying to create hatred among the people, Singhal added.
Singhal who aired his views on different subjects was furious on the Deoband resolution banning singing of Vande Mataram which he charged was passed in the presence of Union Home Minister P Chidambaram.
"The people of the country do not want a Home Minister in whose presence Jamiat-E-Ulema moved a resolution not to sing Vande Mataram', Singhal said.