Speaker Narwekar expresses regret in Maha Assembly over Marathi reading lapses during obituary reference
Mumbai, June 24 (IANS) Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar on Wednesday expressed deep regret over the pronunciation and reading errors committed during Monday’s condolence motions in Marathi.
Responding to severe backlash on social media and criticism from MNS chief Raj Thackeray, BJP leader Narwekar clarified in the House that the mistakes were entirely inadvertent. He attributed the lapses to a faint printout, small font size, and technical errors in the brief supplied to him.
Emphasising his immense pride in the Marathi language, Narwekar stated that he never intended to insult legendary singer Asha Bhosle, adding, “If the sentiments of the state or the House have been hurt, I express my sincere regret.”
Narwekar said, “The text given to me for reading the condolence motion contained certain errors, which unfortunately got read out as they were. There were twelve condolence motions in total. The printout I received was faint, and the font size was very small, alongside a few technical glitches.”
Defending his track record, Narwekar emphasised his respect for the state’s official language. “Like everyone else, I take immense pride in the Marathi language—perhaps even more so. Over my past four years as Speaker, I have delivered numerous speeches and conducted extensive House proceedings seamlessly in Marathi. No one, let alone the Speaker of the Assembly, could ever think of disrespecting an icon like late Asha tai Bhosle. What happened was purely an inadvertent error, and it should not be misinterpreted. However, if the sentiments of the citizens of the state or the members of this House have been hurt, I express my sincere regret,” he said.
Narwekar’s move comes amid controversy over pronunciation and factual errors while reading out a condolence motion. The row began during Monday’s legislative proceedings when Speaker Rahul Narwekar moved a condolence resolution to pay tribute to the legendary playback singer, the late Asha Bhosle, and political ideologue Deendayal Upadhyaya. While reading the text in Marathi, Narwekar committed multiple mispronunciations and blunders, including mistakenly referring to Asha Bhosle’s iconic father, Pandit Deenanath Mangeshkar, as Deendayal Mangeshkar.
The mistakes quickly triggered a massive wave of trolling on social media, with netizens questioning the Speaker’s Marathi articulation.
MNS chief Raj Thackeray launched a scathing attack on Narwekar, heavily criticizing the butchering of the language on such a solemn occasion and expressing dismay that no other lawmaker in the House stepped up to correct the errors.
Raj Thackeray’s viral criticism was highly sarcastic, mockingly questioning if someone had “eaten bhel from the paper before it was handed over to the Speaker” because the reading was so heavily disjointed.
As the Assembly convened on Wednesday morning, the issue was immediately raised by Opposition benches.
Ajay Choudhari, the Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA representing the Shivadi constituency, strongly condemned the incident and demanded strict accountability.
“Action must be taken against those responsible for providing a print with such incorrect phraseology and errors that tarnish the image of the Speaker. The dignity of this august House must not be compromised,” Choudhari demanded.
–IANS
sj/rad