Sanjay Dutt's Yerwada Jail Quip Ignites Marathi Row, Entangles Sena Minister

Actor Sanjay Dutt, who spent many years in jail for keeping illegal firearms including an assault rifle, has stepped on a landmine with his comments on one of the most emotive issues in Maharashtra - the Marathi language. In addition to the comments, the Munna Bhai MBBS actor drew the attention of Marathi leaders after he tied up the remarks with a big laugh coming from a Shiv Sena leader. Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik, who belongs to the Shiv Sena, had asked Dutt to speak in Marathi while attending a Dahi Handi event. "I spent six years in Yerwada Jail, yet I could not learn Marathi," the actor said and laughed. The Sena MLA, soon after the actor made the comments, became a target of Marathi leaders who had criticised Dutt too.