“I Saved Mumbai on 26/11 – Where Were Raj Thackeray’s Men?”: Ex-NSG Commando Slams Language Politics

Mumbai:
Former NSG commando Praveen Kumar Teotia, a hero of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, has publicly criticised Raj Thackeray and his supporters over their stance on the Marathi language issue, questioning their absence during the 2008 crisis.

Teotia, who played a key role in the rescue operation at the Taj Hotel during the deadly terror attack, accused Raj Thackeray’s followers of hiding when the city was under siege. “I bled for Maharashtra. I’m from UP. I helped save Mumbai on 26/11. Where were Raj Thackeray’s so-called warriors then?” he said.

In a conversation with ANI, Teotia emphasized that the real heroes of 26/11 were not the politicians but military personnel from states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. “Neither Raj Thackeray nor Uddhav Thackeray could be seen during the attack. The ones who stood up were soldiers – many from UP and Bihar. I was there, facing terrorists head-on. I’m from the same village as former PM Chaudhary Charan Singh,” he said.

Teotia, who authored “26/11 Braveheart: My Encounter with Terrorists That Night”, stressed that he is not anti-Marathi. Instead, he urged people not to allow language to become a divisive political tool.

“I deeply respect Marathi and Maratha warriors. But we must not allow failed leaders to divide the country. There are far bigger concerns – unemployment, poverty, education, agriculture, health, pending court cases, and terrorism,” he said, urging a shift in public discourse.

The former commando’s remarks come amid ongoing tensions in Maharashtra over the state government’s now-withdrawn three-language policy in schools. The policy reignited a heated debate over linguistic identity, with the Thackeray cousins, Raj and Uddhav, leading the charge against what they described as an imposition of Hindi on Marathi speakers.

Raj Thackeray, in particular, has drawn criticism for his supporters’ aggressive stance toward non-Marathi speakers, with multiple instances of intimidation and assault being reported. Uddhav Thackeray defended Raj, stating it is better to be a “goon” if that means standing up for Marathi pride.

There has been no official response from the Thackeray camp to Teotia’s sharp remarks.

News Source : Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.