BollyParty

The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) is not laughing at actress and Rajya Sabha MP Jaya Bachchan’s dig at the party.

“We are from Uttar Pradesh and we will speak in Hindi—Maharashtrians will forgive us,” said Jaya at an event in Mumbai to launch her son Abhishek’s movie Drona.

MNS leader Raj Thackeray in February 2008 had accused Jaya’s husband, superstar Amitabh Bachchan, of not doing enough for Maharashtra and favouring his home state of Uttar Pradesh. The party has targeted North Indians in Maharashtra, accusing them of disrespecting the state’s culture and putting a strain on its resources.

Thackeray has faulted Amitabh for promoting Uttar Pradesh in an advertisement. "Since he has lived and flourished in Maharashtra, why can't he promote this state?" he said last year.

Sandeep Deshpande, vice-president of MNS’ student wing, reacted sharply to Jaya’s comments and said Bachchan had “insulted” Maharashtrians and she must apologise.