Mumbai, Sept 7: An off-handed remark by actress and Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan supporting the use of Hindi by north Indians in Maharashtra has snowballed into a controversy with the Shiv Sena and Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) launching a scathing attack on her.

At the promo of Hindi film Drona last night Jaya had said, "We are from Uttar Pradesh and should speak in Hindi.”

While the Shiv Sena said, "People of Maharashtra will not tolerate such language from Jaya Bachchan," MNS demanded an apology from her for insulting the Marathi people.

"Can she dare to utter such remarks in Assam, where people are killed for speaking in Hindi," said a Shiv Sena leader, and added, "She should go to states like Tamil Nadu and Kerala and propagate Hindi there."

Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena spokesperson and Jaya Bachchan''s colleague in Rajya Sabha said, "People of Maharashtra will not tolerate such language."

MNS leader Yashwant Killedar said, "The Bachchans have been living here for so many years and saying that they do not know the local language is an insult to Marathi people."

The Congress party was quick to condemn the Shiv Sena and MNS for ''politicising'' the issue. (ANI)