Maharashtra makes Hindi 3rd language for class 1-5; Opposition protests
The
Maharashtra government
's move to have Hindi as the third language for students from standard 1 to standard 5 has once again triggered a
language war
with the
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena
and
Marathi language activists
calling it a "backdoor" move for imposing Hindi.
The Maharashtra government issued a Government Resolution on Tuesday whereby it modified its GR issued this April where it had made Hindi a mandatory third language for students. The April GR was stayed after the opposition and Marathi language proponents had slammed the move calling it an attempt to "impose Hindi".
The modified GR now says Hindi will be taught as a third language but would not be mandatory. Students are at liberty to study any other language provided there are a minimum of 20 students who choose the other language. This move is being projected by parties like
MNS
as an attempt to 'finish' off Marathi. "We need to oppose it. They (
BJP
) will finish off
Marathi literature
," said MNS chief
Raj Thackeray
.
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