Thane: Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt triggered a political controversy after joking that he still could not speak Marathi despite spending “six years” at Pune’s Yerwada Central Jail.
The remark came during a Dahi Handi celebration organised by the Sanskriti Yuva Pratishthan in Thane on Saturday as part of Gokulashtami celebrations. Dutt was sharing the stage with Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik.
During his address, Sarnaik referred to the state government’s controversial requirement that autorickshaw and taxi drivers in Mumbai demonstrate working knowledge of Marathi to obtain operating permits.
Sanjay Dutt’s response, referring to his time in Yerwada jail, drew attention and sparked a political debate over the language requirement and the importance of Marathi in the state.
Sanjay Dutt had served a prison sentence in connection with the illegal possession of arms in the case related to the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts.
