NEW DELHI: Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday intensified his attack on critics of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway’s Missing Link project, replacing his controversial ‘bhade ke tattu’ remark with ‘bhatka gardabh’ (wandering donkeys) and ‘suparibaaz’ (contracted hatchet men) in the assembly.He also took a swipe at Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray, describing him as a ‘mimicry artist’ while defending his earlier remarks in the assembly.Addressing the House, Fadnavis said allegations that “Rs 7,000 crore went down the drain” because of disruption to the Missing Link project during heavy rainfall and a landslide amounted to an insult to the state.“The other day I spoke in the assembly and majhya bhashanane lokanna mirchi laagli (many people felt stung). ‘Rs 7,000 crore went down the drain… Rs 7,000 crore went down the drain… Rs 7,000 crore went down the drain…’ This is not an insult to me; it is an insult to Maharashtra itself. Planting false news and spreading rumours is an insult to Maharashtra,” Fadnavis said.Referring to the criticism over his use of the Hindi phrase “bhade ke tattu” during Tuesday’s debate, the chief minister said he had decided to replace it after ‘research’.“However, while speaking, I used the Hindi phrase ‘bhade ke tattu’; some people were offended by this and remarked that the chief minister ought to use cultured language. So, Nanabhau, I went and did some research. Now, I withdraw the phrase ‘bhade ke tattu’ and, using cultured language, replace it with ‘bhatka gardabh’. If anyone still doesn’t understand, then let’s call them ‘suparibaaz’. But I was only speaking about certain ‘suparibaaz’—I simply couldn’t understand why so many others took offence,” he said.Fadnavis also responded to Raj Thackeray’s criticism over his use of Hindi in the assembly, saying the MNS chief had reacted unnecessarily.“Anyway, let that be. I spoke a sentence in Hindi, and the very people who should have understood didn’t, but instead, someone else felt the sting. Our ‘mimicry artist’ started asking me why I spoke in Hindi. I delivered the entire speech in Marathi, after all. But I have no issue with it. He is a friend, and since he is a friend, we face no political threat from him. I am glad he is in politics; had he ventured into the field of mimicry, not a single stand-up comedian would have had a market left,” Fadnavis said.The exchange stems from Fadnavis’ remarks in the assembly on July 8, when he accused some social media users of spreading misinformation about the Missing Link project.“People who even a dog wouldn’t acknowledge are now taking to social media to hurl abuses at everyone, including the Chief Minister. Some bhade ke tattu were writing about the ‘Missing Link’ on social media in exchange for money. I want to tell them: if you insult Maharashtra, we will not spare you,” he had said.The ‘will not spare you’ remark drew criticism from the Opposition. Shiv Sena UBT leader Aaditya Thackeray accused the chief minister of threatening political opponents and citizens questioning the government.“Their (Devendra Fadnavis’s) threat was not just for the opposition. Their threat was for every person who asks questions in the country or the state. If anyone dared to ask a question, this was a threat against them. Through these threats, they are trying to show BJP leaders how worthy they are to sit in the Centre for the BJP,” Aaditya Thackeray said.Raj Thackeray also criticised the chief minister’s response, arguing that the government should have ordered an inquiry into the reported disruption to the Missing Link project instead of attacking critics.“The Chief Minister should have acknowledged the incident of the Missing Link, and in fact, should have said that an inquiry into this matter will be conducted and action will be taken against the guilty. But instead, they are saying that I will take care of it. What kind of language is this coming from the mouth of the Chief Minister of a cultured Maharashtra?” Raj Thackeray said at a party meeting on Thursday.
