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Hindustan Times
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Why the Maharashtra govt, Oppn are slugging it out over Hindi
MUMBAI: The Maharashtra government's push for a three-language policy in primary school education has witnessed intense resistance from the Opposition, which has now escalated with Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray preparing to hold a joint protest rally against the 'imposition of Hindi' in the state on July 5. Here is a look at the genesis of language politics, and its fall-out. Mumbai: Commuters pass by a newly put-up poster of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray that reads - "We are Hindus, but not Hindi", near Shiv Sena Bhavan, at Dadar, in Mumbai, Friday, April 18, 2025. The Maharashtra government has decided that Hindi as a third language would be mandatory for students in classes 1 to 5 in Marathi and English-medium schools across the state, in a departure from the practice of studying two languages. (PTI Photo/Kunal Patil) (PTI04_18_2025_000078B) (PTI) Politics and flip-flops over the Hindi mandate On April 16, the Devendra Fadnavis-led Mahayuti government declared that Hindi would be made the mandatory third language from Classes 1 to 5 in government and private schools. The move was part of phased implementation of the union government's National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 at the primary school level, from the 2025-26 academic year. Soon after it was announced, it triggered strong opposition from political, social and cultural groups; and such was the pressure that the decision was amended. On April 20, CM Fadnavis announced that Hindi would not after all be compulsory and students could opt for any other regional language. On June 17, a fresh order was issued which stated, 'Hindi will generally be the third language in Marathi- and English-medium schools from Classes 1 to 5.' However, it came with a rider: students would be allowed to opt for any other language apart from Marathi provided there are at least 20 students taking that language in the school and a separate teacher is appointed to teach the language. Why is it being opposed? Those opposing the move called it an indirect imposition of Hindi. They also argued that it may be a tall order for a school to get 20 students choosing to study a different language; and additionally, schools may not be able to provide separate teachers to teach different languages. The government's conditions are such that students would perforce be led to study Hindi, they felt. Uddhav Thackeray equated the decision with the Emergency, while Raj Thackeray urged schools against following the government order as he felt 'an imposition of Hindi was an anti-Maharashtra activity'. State Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal accused Fadnavis of 'stabbing in the heart of Maharashtra and Marathi language'. Fadnavis responded to the collective opposition saying, if English is being accepted, then why are other Indian languages being opposed. A case of Marathi pride Marathi language has always been a sensitive issue politically, as Maharashta was formed on linguistic lines. Both Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS derive their political legacy from the Shiv Sena founded by the late Bal Thackeray which was rooted in Marathi identity – since then, the emotive issue of Marathi pride has been the focus of both parties. Since he formed MNS in 2006, Raj made an anti-north India stance his unique selling point. Uddhav, on the other hand, has continued to use the 'Marathi manoos' plank to further his political agenda. Both parties performed poorly in the assembly election held last year. And now, ahead of the local body polls – especially that of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), and other local bodies in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) – the idea of Marathi identity through a fight against the imposition of Hindi has given both a renewed energy to fire up Marathi pride in among people. The reason behind BJP's push despite opposition The BJP has been firm on its mandate. On Thursday, the party decided to take the Thackeray brothers head-on, arguing that it was Prime Minister Narendra Modi who had ensured that Marathi be elevated as a classical language. Pushing Hindi in schools also will help the party garner north Indian votes en masse in MMR, said BJP insiders. North Indians are the second largest linguistic group in the region after Marathis. The way forward Following pushback from Opposition parties, on June 23, Fadnavis announced that the government would seek the views of language experts, litterateurs and political parties before arriving at a final decision, and asked school education minister Dada Bhuse to consult with concerned individuals and organisations. BJP ally Shiv Sena has so far been supporting the decision, while the Ajit Pawar-led NCP has said it would prefer mandatory Hindi from Class 5. Meanwhile, NCP (SP) has decided to team up with Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS in their rally against 'Hindi imposition' on July 5, while Congress said it will take a decision soon. The language issue is likely to dominate the monsoon session of the state legislature, which begins in Mumbai on Monday.
Hindustan Times
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Thackeray cousins unite to protest ‘imposition of Hindi' in schools
MUMBAI: The possibility of the Thackeray cousins reuniting before the local body elections, tentatively scheduled after October, got a renewed spurt of energy with the chiefs of Shiv Sena (UBT) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray respectively, announcing a joint protest rally on July 5 in Mumbai against the ruling Mahayuti government's 'imposition of Hindi' in primary schools from the 2025-26 academic session, as part of the union government's move to implement the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Mumbai, India - November 17, 2014: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) Chief Raj Thackeray along with Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray at the Bal Thackeray Memorial at Shivaji, Park, Dadar, Mumbai, India on Monday, November 17, 2014 on Bal Thackeray's 2nd death anniversary. (Photo by Kalpak Pathak / hIndustan Times) (Hindustan Times) The announcement was made by Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Friday, which was backed by MNS Mumbai chief Sandeep Deshpande separately. Opposition parties, including Sena (UBT) and MNS, and activists and litterateurs, have criticised the state's decision to adopt the three-language policy for primary schools with Hindi as the mandatory third language, terming it an 'indirect imposition', from the time it was announced on April 16. While Raj and Uddhav had decided to hold the protest marches on July 6 and 7 respectively, a phone conversation between Raj and Raut on Thursday evening set the stage for this crucial political development. 'Jai Maharashtra. There will be a single and united march against compulsory Hindi in Maharashtra schools. Thackeray is the brand,' Raut posted on X on Friday, along with an old picture of the cousins in one frame, and tagged chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union home minister Amit Shah. 'Raj Thackeray called me to say there should be a common protest march of Marathi people; not two separate ones,' Raut told media persons. 'I told Uddhav Thackeray about it; he immediately accepted and soon the date for the joint rally was finalised.' Deshpande confirmed the move soon after, stating the cousins were coming together in a march organised 'in the interest of Marathi language'. 'Raj saheb took the initiative and called Raut. This was necessary to show the power of Marathi people. A message also needed to go out to the country that we have the strength to thwart any attempt to throttle Marathi language,' he said. Soon after the decision was made, people in the know told HT that Deshpande and Sena (UBT) MLA Varun Sardesai chatted about the logistics of the march, most likely to be held between Girgaum to Azad Maidan in the afternoon of July 5. This is the first time the Thackeray cousins presented a united front since speculation of their reunification abounded following Raj's podcast with filmmaker Mahesh Manjrekar in April, where he said he was ready to set aside differences with Uddhav in the larger interest of Maharashtra. Uddhav was quick to respond saying he would welcome a patch-up if Raj moved away from 'forces that were working against the interest of Maharashtra'. The two have now found common ground in their fight against the 'imposition of Hindi' in primary schools. The cousins who had separated following a power tussle over the control of Shiv Sena in 2005, will be seen on a public platform after two decades. Reacting to the development, state cultural affairs minister and city Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Ashish Shelar said the Thackeray cousins 'are victims of misunderstanding'. 'The NEP and the three-language formula were discussed when Uddhav Thackeray was chief minister in 2022. A report to this effect was submitted by a panel to the government at the time. Earlier, a report on the three-language formula and making Hindi mandatory was submitted to then Congress government in 1968. It was the Congress government that made Hindi mandatory in secondary schools. All those who are opposing the decision now have misunderstood the process,' Shelar said. Pawar backs Thackerays It is unlikely that the protest will be limited to the two parties – Sena (UBT) and MNS — as the Thackerays have started approaching others who are also opposed to the decision. The Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) will join forces with Uddhav and Raj in the morcha. This was revealed in a statement issued by state NCP (SP) chief Jayant Patil on Friday evening. Patil's statement came a few hours after party chief Sharad Pawar expressed optimism about the Thackerays coming together over the common cause of Marathi language. 'If the Thackerays want all political parties to join the protest, we need to know their stand and exact plans,' Pawar said in Kolhapur in the morning. Patil's statement in the evening read: 'In the protest against the imposition of Hindi under the NEP 2020's trilingual policy, a mass rally of Marathi-speaking citizens has been organized in Mumbai on July 5. NCP (SP) has extended its full support to this march.' Meanwhile, on Friday, MNS leader Bala Nandgaonkar telephoned senior Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar, requesting his party leaders' participation in the morcha. Wadettiwar said he will discuss the matter with party president Harshwardhan Sapkal and other senior leaders, following which a decision will be taken. Choosing to remain non-committal about joining forces with the cousins, Sapkal said while the party has been opposing the government's decision, 'it is more important that it withdraw its decision than us participating in the protest'. 'BJP is following the RSS agenda for Hindi and Hindu Rashtra. They have conspired to crush the Marathi language along with all the other regional languages. We respect the Hindi language but oppose the BJP government's decision of making it mandatory in schools,' Sapkal told HT. Teach Hindi after Class 5: Ajit While the opposition's move against the government is gathering steam, one from the ruling coalition's own flock, the NCP, voiced its opposition to making Hindi mandatory from Class 1. Party chief and deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar said, 'In my view, Hindi should not be taught between Class 1 to 4. It should be started from Class 5. Students should only learn Marathi from Class 1. They should know how to read and write Marathi, and while doing so they will learn reading and writing Hindi language. Hindi can be mandatory from Class 5.'
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
20 years after split, Uddhav & Raj join hands to oppose ‘Hindi imposition' in schools
Mumbai: Uddhav and will hold a joint protest march of their parties in the city on July 5 against what they allege is imposition of Hindi in the state's schools from Class 1 through the new three-language policy. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now This will be the first time they will come together on a political platform after Raj Thackeray's decision to quit Shiv Sena to form MNS nearly two decades ago. There has been speculation of a reunion of the estranged cousins for the coming civic polls, and the protest march is being seen as the first step in that direction, reports Chaitanya Marpakwar. Uddhav and Raj had on Thursday announced two separate marches, on July 6 and 7 respectively. But according to Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, Raj dialled him Friday and said it would not be good to hold two marches for the Marathi language in this way and a joint movement could have a big impact. Raut said he then spoke to Uddhav, who agreed "without hesitation." Uddhav and Raj Thackeray's joint protest march against what they allege is imposition of Hindi in the state's schools will mostly be from Girgaum Chowpatty to Azad Maidan. Both parties have said it will be non-political and no party flags will be displayed. MNS functionary Sandeep Deshpande and Sena (UBT) MLA Varun Sardesai also met on Friday at a restaurant in Dadar (W), further fuelling speculation that the parties would come together not just for the protest but for BMC polls too. Aaditya Thackeray also met Deshpande at an event on Friday, where they greeted each other; Deshpande has fought the 2024 assembly polls against Aaditya from Worli and lost. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Marathi language expert Deepak Pawar, who had called for a protest on July 7, said Marathi language activists will join the July 5 protest and continue protests on July 7 if govt doesn't roll back its three-language policy. The opposition and several groups have criticized the state govt, alleging it is trying to impose Hindi as the third language, though the govt has said Hindi is not mandatory. After issuing a GR on June 17 on the third-language policy, govt took two steps back this week, first by saying it would have wide-ranging consultations before finalizing the policy and second by saying the third language would be taught via the play-way method, only orally, in Class 1 and 2, with no textbooks for students and no tests or exams. Raut said Raj initially told him he had no idea about the UBT Sena's march. When he discussed Raj's message of having one march with , Raut said that "he said he too was not in favour of a separate march but as July 6 is Ashadhi Ekadashi, it would be difficult to reach the people. I conveyed this to Raj Thackeray. After talking to Uddhav Thackeray, we suggested July 5 as the date. Raj Thackeray agreed to it after talking to his colleagues… This march will be without any political agenda. Through it, govt will see the strength of Marathi people." Deshpande said, "Raj Thackeray took the initiative and called Sanjay Raut and the date of the march was decided. We are inviting all parties, including Marathi-loving office-bearers of BJP and Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena. It's a good thing the Thackerays are keeping aside political differences and coming together as Marathi manoos. They will decide if they will come together politically. For now, we are focusing on the march. The protest will change the political direction of Maharashtra. The protest is not Raj or Uddhav Thackeray's, it belongs to the Marathi manoos." Sardesai said there was dialogue between Sena (UBT) and MNS. "We are asking everyone to join the protest, so we met to plan the march," he said. MNS functionaries said they were reaching out to Congress, NCP and NCP (SP) netas along with other parties to invite them for the march. Meanwhile, reacting to education minister Dada Bhuse's comments that the third language would be taught via the play-way method, Aaditya Thackeray said on X, "The Education Minister should first go sit in a school and take such lessons! Forcing first-graders to learn three languages already, and that too without books, just oral practice. Are they running a govt or a comedy show? What are they saying, what are they deciding, just listen to yourselves for once. "
Time of India
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
20 years after split, Uddhav & Raj join hands to oppose 'Hindi imposition' in Maharashtra
MUMBAI: Uddhav and Raj Thackeray will hold a joint protest march of their parties here on July 5 against what they allege is the imposition of Hindi in Maharashtra's schools from Class 1 through the new three-language policy. This will be the first time that the two will come together on a political platform after Raj's decision to quit Shiv Sena to form MNS nearly two decades ago. There has been speculation of a possible reunion of the estranged cousins for the coming civic polls; the protest march is being seen as the first step in that direction. Initially, Uddhav and Raj had on Thursday announced two separate marches: on July 6 and 7 respectively. Speculation rife about Uddhav, Raj joining hands for BMC polls According to Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, Raj dialled him Friday and said it would not be good to hold two marches for the Marathi language in this way and a joint movement could have a big impact. Raut said he then spoke to Uddhav, who agreed "without hesitation." The march will mostly be from Girgaum Chowpatty to Azad Maidan. Both parties have said it will be non-political and no party flags will be displayed. MNS functionary Sandeep Deshpande and Sena (UBT) MLA Varun Sardesai also met on Friday at a restaurant in Dadar (W), further fuelling speculation that the parties would come together not just for the protest but for the BMC polls too. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like They Were So Beautiful Before; Now Look At Them; Number 10 Will Shock You Reportingly Undo Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray also met Deshpande at an event on Friday, where they greeted each other; Deshpande has fought the 2024 assembly polls against Aaditya from Worli and lost. Marathi language expert Deepak Pawar, who had called for a protest on July 7, said Marathi language activists will join the July 5 protest and continue protests on July 7 if govt doesn't roll back its three-language policy. The opposition and several groups have criticized the state govt, alleging it is trying to impose Hindi as the third language, though the govt has said Hindi is not mandatory. After issuing a GR on June 17 on the third-language policy, the govt took two steps back this week, first by saying it would have wide-ranging consultations before finalizing the policy and second by saying the third language would be taught via the play-way method, only orally, in Class 1 and 2, with no textbooks for students and no tests or exams. Raut said Raj initially told him he had no idea about the UBT Sena's march. When he discussed Raj's message of having one march with Uddhav Thackeray , Raut said that "he said he too was not in favour of a separate march but as July 6 is Ashadhi Ekadashi, it would be difficult to reach the people. I conveyed this to Raj Thackeray. After talking to Uddhav Thackeray, we suggested July 5 as the date. Raj Thackeray agreed to it after talking to his colleagues... This march will be without any political agenda. Through it, govt will see the strength of the Marathi people." Education minister Dada Bhuse had met Raj on Thursday to explain the govt's stand, but Raj had said the govt's view wasn't acceptable. Deshpande said, "Raj Thackeray took the initiative and called Sanjay Raut and the date of the march was decided. We are inviting all parties, including Marathi-loving office-bearers of BJP and Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena. "It's a good thing the Thackerays are keeping aside political differences and coming together as Marathi manoos. They will decide if they will come together politically. For now, we are focusing on the march. "The protest will change the political direction of Maharashtra. The protest is not Raj or Uddhav Thackeray's, it belongs to the Marathi manoos." Sardesai said there was dialogue between Sena (UBT) and MNS. "We are asking everyone to join the protest, so we met to plan the march," he said. MNS functionaries said they were reaching out to Congress, NCP and NCP (SP) netas along with other parties and organisations to invite them for the march.
The Hindu
11 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Thackeray cousins to jointly oppose mandatory Hindi in schools
Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray are set to join forces to Oppose the 'imposition' of Hindi in primary schools under the three-language formula. Following parallel announcements earlier, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said the two parties - Shiv Sena (UBT) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) - would now jointly hold a rally on July 5 in Mumbai. 'Thackeray is the brand!' Mr. Raut posted on social media, along with a photograph of the two leaders. This marks the first time the Thackeray cousins have united on a political issue since Raj Thackeray founded the MNS in 2006. Meanwhile, Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) chief Sharad Pawar also expressed opposition to the three-language formula. 'It is incorrect to impose Hindi from Grade 1 to Grade 4. The government shouldn't force it. Today, 55% people speak Hindi in India. It can be a language of communication. Because there is no hatred towards Hindi in Maharashtra, it shouldn't be made mandatory,' he said while speaking to reporters in Kolhapur. Asked whether he would join the Thackerays' protest, Mr. Pawar said he would 'first understand the issue after returning to Mumbai.' Reunification of the Thackerays 'Two separate rallies on the same issue are not good. I discussed with both the leaders, and they decided to come together,' Mr. Raut said, emphasising that making Hindi compulsory would put an unnecessary burden on students. 'So, it is not just a linguistic but also an academic issue,' he added. According to Mr. Raut, Mr. Raj Thackeray had called him after announcing his rally and proposed a joint protest. Mr. Raj Thackeray had earlier announced a 'Virat Morcha' on July 6 from Girgaon Chowpatty, while Shiv Sena (UBT) had backed a rally at Azad Maidan on July 7. The scheduling of parallel rallies had led to public speculation over coordination between the parties. The protest is against the State government's April 16 decision to mandate Hindi as a third language in primary education and the amended Government Resolution (GR), which requires a minimum of 20 students to opt for any alternative Indian language. Reiterating the joint stance, Mr. Raut posted: 'There will be one united protest against compulsory Hindi in Maharashtra schools.' Mr. Raut also launched a sharp attack on Union Home Minister Amit Shah, calling him 'Maharashtra's political enemy' and accusing him of manipulating the Election Commission and the Supreme Court to engineer the 2022 split in the Shiv Sena.
