The Shiv Sena (UBT) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) vowed to resist what they called an attempt to impose Hindi on state students, accusing the ruling BJP of trying to enforce a 鈥渓anguage emergency鈥 that threatens 鈥淢arathi-ness鈥 and Maharashtra鈥檚 cultural identity.
Addressing separate press briefings, Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray announced protest marches 鈥 on July 7 and July 5, respectively 鈥 against the policy.
鈥淭he BJP is trying to create divisions based on language. This is a language emergency,鈥 said Uddhav, clarifying that while his party isn鈥檛 against Hindi, it opposes its forced imposition.
The controversy began after the state issued a revised order mandating that Hindi be 鈥済enerally鈥 taught as a third language from Classes 1 to 5 in Marathi and English medium schools.
While the government clarified that Hindi is optional if 20 students opt for another Indian language, opposition leaders slammed the move.
Raj Thackeray criticised the three-language formula, accusing the government of diluting Marathi鈥檚 importance. His party plans a protest march from Girgaum Chowpatty, urging participation from other political parties, artists, and writers.
Sharad Pawar, president of NCP (SP), backed the Thackeray cousins, asserting that Hindi shouldn鈥檛 be compulsory from Class 1. 鈥淣ew languages should be introduced after Class 5. Burdening small children is wrong,鈥 he said, adding that the mother tongue should remain the focus in early education.
Maharashtra Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal also pledged support, calling the issue vital to the state鈥檚 identity and cultural heritage.
However, the ruling BJP dismissed the criticism. Industries Minister Uday Samant pointed out that the decision stemmed from the Dr. Mashelkar Committee report, which was approved under Uddhav鈥檚 own MVA government. Cultural Affairs Minister Ashish Shelar reiterated that Marathi remains compulsory, and Hindi is only an option among other Indian languages.
Union Minister Ramdas Athawale defended Hindi鈥檚 inclusion, saying, 鈥淗indi is our national language. Opposing it is like opposing the Constitution.鈥 He urged the BJP-led government not to succumb to pressure from the Thackeray cousins.
Meanwhile, School Education Minister Dada Bhuse clarified that for Classes 1 and 2, there would be no textbooks, only oral teaching through songs and pictures, aiming to reduce academic burden at the primary level.