Sena, MNS slam Jaya over her remarks

An apparent off-the-cuff remark by actress Jaya Bachchan supporting the use of Hindi language by North Indians in Maharashtra has snowballed into a major controversy.

An apparent off-the-cuff remark by actress Jaya Bachchan supporting the use of Hindi language by North Indians in Maharashtra has snowballed into a controversy with the Shiv Sena and Raj Thackeray-led MNS launching a scathing attack on the Samajwadi Party MP.

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While the Sena said "people of Maharashtra will not tolerate such language from Jaya Bachchan", MNS demanded an apology from her, saying she has insulted the Marathi people.

At the 'Drona' film promo in Mumbai last night, Jaya had said "hum UP ke log hai, hume Hindi mein baat karni chahiye" (we are from Uttar Pradesh and should speak in Hindi).

"Can she dare utter such remarks in Assam, where people are killed for speaking in Hindi," a Sena leader said."She should go to states like Tamil Nadu and Kerala and propagate Hindi there," he added.

Sena spokesperson and Jaya Bachchan's colleague in Rajya Sabha Sanjay Raut said: "People of Maharashtra will not tolerate such language."

"The Bachchans have been living here for so many years and saying that they do not know the local language is an insult to Marathi people," MNS leader Yashwant Killedar.

"Leaders whose children study in elite English schools like Bombay Scottish have no business targeting others," MPCC spokesperson Sanjay Nirupam said.

'Drona' is directed by Goldie Behl, husband of Raj Thackeray's good friend Sonali Bendre and stars Abhishek Bachchan, Priyanka Chopra, Kay Kay Menon, Jaya Bachchan and Sanjay Dutt.