“Where Were Your Warriors During 26/11?”: Former Commando Praveen Teotia Slams Raj Thackeray Amid Hindi-Marathi Row
“Where Were Your Warriors During 26/11?”: Commando Praveen Teotia Slams Raj Thackeray Amid Hindi-Marathi Row
26/11 Taj hero and UP native calls for unity, says “Smiles don’t require any language”
Decorated 26/11 hero and former MARCOS commando Praveen Kumar Teotia has hit out at MNS chief Raj Thackeray for his controversial remarks on enforcing the Marathi language in Maharashtra. In a powerful message shared on social media, Teotia — who hails from Uttar Pradesh and played a pivotal role during the 2008 Mumbai attacks — reminded the nation of the sacrifices made by people from different states in saving Mumbai.
Sharing a photo of himself in full commando gear with “UP” marked on his bulletproof vest, Teotia wrote: “I saved Mumbai on 26/11. I bleed for Maharashtra. I’m from UP. I saved the Taj Hotel. Where were Raj Thackeray’s so-called warriors? Don’t divide the nation. Smiles don’t require any language.”
Teotia, who sustained four bullet injuries while rescuing over 150 people during the siege of the Taj Hotel, lashed out against the divisive rhetoric. His post comes in response to Raj Thackeray’s controversial comments at a joint rally with Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, where Raj stated, “Everyone must know Marathi… If someone acts dramatic, hit them below their ears — but don’t film it.”
Uddhav Thackeray backed his cousin’s stance, saying, “Yes, we are goons. If goondagiri is needed for justice, we will do it.”
Speaking to the news agency, Teotia challenged the political grandstanding: “During 26/11, their so-called warriors were nowhere to be found. Not just them, even Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray and their families were missing during the crisis.”
He urged leaders to refrain from politicising language and instead focus on development: “We respect Marathi, but don’t turn it into a political weapon. If you want to lead, give people jobs, improve infrastructure. So far, MNS hasn’t done any development work worth mentioning.”
Teotia’s hard-hitting words have sparked widespread debate on social media, with many hailing him as a symbol of national unity and courage beyond regional lines.
