{"id":27519,"date":"2026-01-15T08:49:40","date_gmt":"2026-01-15T08:49:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/15\/marathi-identity-is-our-foundation-not-a-political-tool-bjps-ravindra-chavan-hits-back-at-opposition-politics-news\/"},"modified":"2026-01-15T08:49:40","modified_gmt":"2026-01-15T08:49:40","slug":"marathi-identity-is-our-foundation-not-a-political-tool-bjps-ravindra-chavan-hits-back-at-opposition-politics-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/15\/marathi-identity-is-our-foundation-not-a-political-tool-bjps-ravindra-chavan-hits-back-at-opposition-politics-news\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Marathi Identity Is Our Foundation, Not a Political Tool\u2019: BJP\u2019s Ravindra Chavan Hits Back At Opposition | Politics News"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"story-9832610\">\n<p><span class=\"jsx-395e0e0beb19cb6e jsx-3759419209\">Last Updated:<\/span><time class=\"jsx-395e0e0beb19cb6e jsx-3759419209\">January 15, 2026, 14:03 IST<\/time><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"asubttl-9832610\" class=\"jsx-ee90caf6118df965 jsx-3094172911 asubttl-schema\">Ravindra Chavan said that for the BJP, Marathi identity is not a slogan for convenience but a core belief rooted in inclusiveness and collective pride.\u00a0<\/h2>\n<div id=\"artshare\" class=\"jsx-ea217851d88955e2 artshare\">\n<div class=\"jsx-ea217851d88955e2 stickdiv\">\n<div class=\"jsx-ea217851d88955e2 deskwrapstkdiv\">\n<div class=\"jsx-ea217851d88955e2 fontchange\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/images.news18.com\/dlxczavtqcctuei\/news18\/static\/images\/english\/font.svg\" height=\"30px\" width=\"30px\" alt=\"font\" title=\"font\" class=\"jsx-ea217851d88955e2 lazyload\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-ea217851d88955e2 artsharwrp\"><a href=\"https:\/\/web.whatsapp.com\/send?text=%E2%80%98Marathi%20Identity%20Is%20Our%20Foundation%2C%20Not%20a%20Political%20Tool%E2%80%99%3A%20BJP%E2%80%99s%20Ravindra%20Chavan%20Hits%20Back%20At%20Opposition - %0D%0Ahttps:\/\/www.news18.com\/politics\/marathi-identity-is-our-foundation-not-a-political-tool-bjps-ravindra-chavan-hits-back-at-opposition-9832610.html%3Futm_source%3Dwhatsapp%26utm_medium%3Dsocial_share%26utm_campaign%3Dnw18english%0D%0A %0D%0A Get the latest news anytime, anywhere. Install News18 app for free! %0D%0Ahttps:\/\/onelink.to\/website-share-eng\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"jsx-ea217851d88955e2 sclrnd wapp social_share\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"jsx-ea217851d88955e2 notifycnt social_share\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/images.news18.com\/dlxczavtqcctuei\/news18\/static\/images\/english\/new_share_icon.svg\" alt=\"new share icon\" title=\"new share icon\" width=\"8\" height=\"9\" class=\"jsx-ea217851d88955e2 social_share\"\/><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/images.news18.com\/dlxczavtqcctuei\/news18\/static\/images\/english\/new_whatsapp_icon.svg\" alt=\"new whatsapp icon\" title=\"new whatsapp icon\" width=\"21\" height=\"22\" class=\"jsx-ea217851d88955e2 social_share\"\/><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-ee90caf6118df965 jsx-3094172911\">\n<figure class=\"jsx-ee90caf6118df965 jsx-3094172911 amimg\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Maharashtra BJP president Ravindra Chavan. (File Photo)\" title=\"Maharashtra BJP president Ravindra Chavan. (File Photo)\" src=\"https:\/\/images.news18.com\/ibnlive\/uploads\/2021\/07\/1627283897_news18_logo-1200x800.jpg?impolicy=website&amp;width=400&amp;height=225\" loading=\"eager\" fetchpriority=\"high\" class=\"jsx-ee90caf6118df965 jsx-3094172911\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Maharashtra BJP president Ravindra Chavan. (File Photo)<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p id=\"0\" class=\"story_para_0\"><span style=\"font-weight:400\">The BJP has pushed back strongly against the Opposition\u2019s narrative on Marathi language and identity, with Maharashtra BJP president Ravindra Chavan accusing rival parties of reducing <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight:400\">Marathi asmita<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight:400\"> to a political tool.<\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"1\" class=\"story_para_1\"><span style=\"font-weight:400\">Speaking on the ongoing debate, Chavan said that for the BJP, Marathi identity is not a slogan for convenience but a core belief rooted in inclusiveness and collective pride.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"2\" class=\"story_para_2\"><span style=\"font-weight:400\">\u201cFor us, Marathi is not singular or exclusionary. It represents a shared cultural consciousness \u2013 language, tradition, literature and values \u2013 all taken together,&#8221; he said.<\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"3\" class=\"story_para_3\"><span style=\"font-weight:400\">He alleged that the opposition\u2019s approach towards Marathi is driven by negativity and short-term political gains, rather than genuine commitment to the language or its cultural depth. \u201cMarathi is not a subject for political games. It is neither poison nor nectar to be used selectively,&#8221; Chavan remarked, cautioning against politicising linguistic identity.<\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"4\" class=\"story_para_4\"><span style=\"font-weight:400\">Drawing a contrast, he said the BJP\u2019s vision of Marathi culture is aligned with universal values and positivity, echoing the philosophy of saints like Dnyaneshwar, whose teachings spoke of global harmony rather than division.<\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"5\" class=\"story_para_5\"><span style=\"font-weight:400\">Chavan asserted that BJP and the Marathi identity cannot be viewed separately. He said the party\u2019s ideological foundation is deeply influenced by towering Marathi figures who shaped India\u2019s social and national thought \u2013 from Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar and Veer Savarkar to Balasaheb Thackeray. Highlighting the party\u2019s track record, Chavan pointed out that the BJP played a key role in securing classical language status for Marathi and took the lead in institutionalising cultural traditions such as the Gudi Padwa processions, which are now celebrated across the world.<\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"6\" class=\"story_para_6\"><span style=\"font-weight:400\">Further he added that the BJP remains committed not only to Maharashtra\u2019s development but also to the progress of Marathi-speaking communities globally. \u201cOur aim is a stronger state, an easier life for citizens and a generation rooted in culture and nationalism. That requires collective effort, not political opportunism,&#8221; he said.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"jsx-ee90caf6118df965 jsx-3094172911 atbtlink fp\"><span>First Published:<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"rs\">\n<p>January 15, 2026, 14:03 IST<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-ee90caf6118df965 jsx-3094172911 brdcrmb\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/\">News<\/a>  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/politics\/\">politics<\/a>  <span class=\"brdout\"> \u2018Marathi Identity Is Our Foundation, Not a Political Tool\u2019: BJP\u2019s Ravindra Chavan Hits Back At Opposition<\/span><\/div>\n<div id=\"coral-wrap\" class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f \">\n<div class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f coral-cont\">\n<div class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f coltoptxt\">Disclaimer: Comments reflect users\u2019 views, not News18\u2019s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/disclaimer\/\" class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f\">Terms of Use<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/privacy_policy\/\" class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f\">Privacy Policy<\/a>.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"jsx-ee90caf6118df965 jsx-3094172911 rmbtn news18_read_more\">Read More<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/politics\/marathi-identity-is-our-foundation-not-a-political-tool-bjps-ravindra-chavan-hits-back-at-opposition-9832610.html\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Last Updated:January 15, 2026, 14:03 IST Ravindra Chavan said that for the BJP, Marathi identity is not a slogan for convenience but a core belief rooted in inclusiveness and collective pride.\u00a0 Maharashtra BJP president Ravindra Chavan. (File Photo) The BJP has pushed back strongly against the Opposition\u2019s narrative on Marathi language and identity, with Maharashtra&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":27520,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[48],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27519","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-politics"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27519","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27519"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27519\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/27520"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27519"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27519"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27519"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}