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Sanjay Dutt’s Jail Marathi Quip Deepens Maharashtra Language Row
Sanjay Dutt made a joke about not learning Marathi while he was in jail.
He made the joke beside Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik at a public celebration.
Sarnaik had said taxi drivers must learn Marathi or risk losing their permits.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis later delayed that rule for one year.
This created an awkward situation for Sarnaik and his political allies.
A former prison official said Dutt once refused to wear his jail uniform.
She warned him firmly, and he followed the rule.
Later, Dutt became friendly with prison staff and helped organize events and a jail radio.
Sanjay Dutt mocked Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik’s Marathi language directive during Dahi Handi celebrations in Thane.
Dutt said he could not learn Marathi during his time in Pune’s Yerwada jail.
Sarnaik had required taxi drivers to learn Marathi by August 15 or risk permit suspension.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis postponed the requirement by a year amid concerns among Hindi-speaking residents.
Former prison official Swati Sathe said Dutt initially resisted jail rules but later cooperated with staff and helped run a jail radio.
- Who
- Actor Sanjay Dutt, Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and former prison official Swati Sathe.
- What
- Dutt publicly mocked a Marathi language directive, while a former prison official recalled his early resistance to jail rules.
- Where
- The exchange took place in Thane, while the jail anecdote concerns Yerwada jail in Pune, Maharashtra.
- When
- The public exchange occurred during Dahi Handi celebrations; Sarnaik’s deadline was August 15, and the requirement was later deferred by one year.
- Why
- Sarnaik had sought to require taxi drivers to learn Marathi, while Fadnavis deferred the rule amid concerns about Maharashtra’s Hindi-speaking population.
Language-Rule Supporters
Language-Rule Critics
Taxi-driver requirement
Language-Rule Supporters
Pratap Sarnaik supported requiring taxi drivers to learn Marathi by August 15, with permit suspension as a possible consequence.
Language-Rule Critics
Critics, reflected by Dutt’s public joke and concerns cited about Hindi-speaking residents, opposed or questioned the strict language demand.
Government timing
Language-Rule Supporters
The directive was presented as a requirement for taxi drivers in Maharashtra.
Language-Rule Critics
Devendra Fadnavis deferred the requirement by a year, indicating that the immediate deadline would not proceed.
Key facts
- Public exchange
- Sanjay Dutt mocked Pratap Sarnaik’s Marathi directive while standing beside him on stage.
- Event
- Dahi Handi celebrations in Thane.
- Language deadline
- Taxi drivers were told to learn Marathi by August 15.
- Penalty proposed
- Permits could be suspended for drivers who did not comply.
- Policy change
- Devendra Fadnavis deferred the requirement by one year.
- Dutt’s imprisonment
- His sentence was reduced by the Supreme Court from six years to five years, and he spent more than four years in prison after legal concessions.
- Jail recollection
- Swati Sathe said Dutt initially refused to wear the jail uniform but later developed cordial relations with staff.
Quotes
Swati Sathe
Former Deputy Inspector General and jail superintendent in Maharashtra’s prison department
“Sanju, tu batton ki zubaan samjhega ya laaton ki?”
NDTV
Sources
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