Thane, Oct. 1 – Bharatiya Janata Party legislator Narendra Mehta issued a public apology after his remarks about Mira‑Bhayander drew widespread criticism. During a religious gathering that marked the birth anniversary of Dada Gurudev, Mehta referred to the town as a “city of Jains” and described it as a “mini Rajasthan,” claiming that the region’s MLA, mayor and nine corporators belong to the Jain community.
The comments sparked sharp backlash from several political groups, including the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, the Indian National Congress and the Marathi Ekikaran Samiti. Those parties accused Mehta of undermining the Maharashtrian cultural identity of the area.
In a video message released on Thursday, Mehta offered an unconditional public apology to anyone whose sentiments were hurt by his statements.
