Raj espouses Marathi, his dogs have English names: Ex-aide

Mumbai: A former associate of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray has questioned his 'dual standards' on the Marathi cause.

 "You call yourself the 'Marathi hridaysamrat' (Emperor of Marathi hearts), then why have you named your pet dogs 'James' and 'Bond'," Sanjay Ghadi, who recently quit MNS and joined Shiv Sena, asked while addressing an election rally in suburban Dahisar on Monday.

Ghadi, who was with Raj since their days in the Shiv Sena-affiliated students' union, the Bharatiya Vidyarthi Sena, was referring to the MNS chief's other passion, his two Great Danes.

The latest salvo against Raj comes in the backdrop of the embarrassment to the MNS after a candidate of his party referred to Mumbai as 'Bombay' and 'Bambai'.

Last week, two days after Raj forced filmmaker Karan Johar to tender an apology for calling Mumbai by its previous name 'Bombay' in the film 'Wake up Sid', an MNS candidate referred to the city as 'Bombay' and 'Bambai'.

Rajendra Mahale, contesting from Belapur constituency in neighbouring Navi Mumbai, referred to Mumbai as 'Bombay' and 'Bambai' while speaking to a television channel.