Raj accepts Big B's apology, targets Mumbai top cop

Mumbai: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray on Thursday declared truce and accepted Amitabh Bachchan's apology on the Hindi vs Marathi issue.

The language controversy in Mumbai seems to have been put to an end for now with Thackeray also calling off the agitation against the Bachchans.

"Amitabh Bachchan, Lata Mangeshkar, Sachin Tendulkar all of them have no state boundaries," Raj Thackeray said on Thursday in Mumbai.

Surely it was not the same Raj Thackeray who accused the Bachchan family of doing nothing for their karmabhoomi (workplace) Maharashtra and even wanted them ousted from the state.

In a sharp U-turn, the MNS chief withdrew the agitation against the Bachchans that was fuelled by Jaya's pro-Hindi remark.

"I accept Amitabh Bachchan's apology and we withdraw our agitation against them. After Amitabh's apology we are withdrawing out agitation. Actually Jaya should have addressed the press conference but as the head of family he has come forward. It is a victory for our cause for the Marathi manoos (man)," Raj said

Though Big B tendered a public apology late Wednesday night after the cancellation of the premiere of his film The Last Lear, he defended his wife's comments saying they were innocent.

"Have spoken to the press and regret it that she said this and apologised if it has hurt the sentiments. But she did not mean it," Amitabh said.

Despite the truce with the Bachchans, Raj continues his open defiance of the law, even targetting the Mumbai Police machinery.

Raj took a potshot at Joint Commissioner of Police, Mumbai, KL Prasad for his remarks on Mumbai.

"KL Prasad is a responsible police officer. Why should he make a statement whose Mumbai is it? He should take a survey amongst his policemen about this," Raj remarked.

Though the controversy has now diffused, with all the high drama, it seems Raj has managed to extract political mileage for his party by projecting himself as the language police.

The question remains will the state govt be able to reign him in soon.

(With inputs from Kajal Iyer)