Sanjay Dutt’s confession about his inability to learn Marathi, even after six years in Yerwada jail, inadvertently sparked controversy and put Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik in an awkward position, given Sarnaik’s stringent policy on Marathi proficiency for auto and taxi drivers.
IMAGE: Sanjay Dutt and Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik at a Dahi Handi event in Thane. Photograph: Kind courtesy Pratap Sarnaik/X
Key Points
- Sanjay Dutt said he had not learnt Marathi during his six years in Yerwada jail at a Dahi Handi event organised by Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik.
- The remark gained significance as Sarnaik has been pushing for auto and taxi drivers in Maharashtra to have a working knowledge of Marathi.
- Sarnaik’s earlier stance on Marathi proficiency for drivers had drawn criticism, particularly from those from other states.
Sanjay Dutt put Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik in an awkward spot with his remark about not being able to speak Marathi.
At a Dahi Handi event organised by Sarnaik in Thane, Sanjay Dutt said, ‘Pratapbhai, main 6 saal jail mein raha, Yerwada mein. Tab bhi Marathi nahi seekh paaya. Main thoda seekha tha. (I was in Yerwada jail, Pune, for 6 years but still I could not learn Marathi, except for some sentences.)’
Then, he tried his hand at Marathi, saying, ‘Tumhi sarvana Namaskar (Namaskar to everyone assembled here)’ and raised the slogan ‘Har Har Mahadev’.
Sanjay Dutt’s Remarks and Sarnaik’s Policy
Watch: Sanjay Dutt calls Pratap Sarnaik his close friend, saying, ‘Main Pratapbhai ka aabhaari hoon ki mujhe yahan bulaye. Hamara rishta bahut purana hai, 25 saal ho gaye hain. (I am thankful to Pratapbhai who called me here; I’ve known him for the last 25 years).’ Video: ANI
While Dutt may have meant them as a quip, his remarks about Marathi have a sharper context because Sarnaik has been insisting that autorickshaw and taxi drivers in Maharashtra must know Marathi.
The transport department under Sarnaik’s ministry had revived an existing 1989 rule under which drivers are expected to have a working knowledge of Marathi.
Sarnaik had warned that drivers who failed to meet the requirement could face action related to their permits or licences. The minister’s stand triggered criticism, particularly because many auto and taxi drivers come from outside Maharashtra from states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
‘He is openly mocking Sarnaik’
Watch: A huge turnout just to watch Sanjay Dutt. Video: ANI
Some social media users criticised Sarnaik for his double standards.
One user wrote, ‘Sanjubaba confesses not learning Marathi in 6 years in front of Transport minister Pratap Sarnaik, who did dadagiri of learning Marathi on Cab/Rickshawala drivers within 3 months. The rule does not apply to Sanjay Dutt because of his celebrity status.’
Another person wrote, ‘He is openly mocking & challenging Pratap Sarnaik’s diktat for Auto/Cab drivers to learn Marathi & the Minister is seen smiling.’
When the language controversy started blowing out of proportion, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stepped in and postponed punitive action, giving drivers a year to learn Marathi, making it clear that they will not be penalised during this period.
Against this backdrop, Dutt’s admission that he could not learn Marathi even after six years in Yerwada jail — followed by Sarnaik smiling beside him — has been seen by some as an amusing dig at the minister’s stand.
Photographs curated by Satish Bodas/Rediff
