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The Print
an hour ago
- Politics
- The Print
Sena (UBT) workers to burn Hindi ‘imposition' GR on eve of Maharashtra monsoon session
Mumbai, Jun 28 (PTI) Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray has asked his party workers to burn the government resolution (GR) on Hindi language in state schools on June 29, a day before the Maharashtra legislature's Monsoon Session is set to begin. Thackeray will be present when the copies of the GR are burnt in south Mumbai, said party vibhag pramukh (area chief) Santosh Shinde.
Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘Thackeray is the brand': Marathi the glue, Uddhav and Raj to now share stage
For the first time in almost two decades, estranged cousins Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray are all set to share the stage together on July 5. The platform: a joint protest rally against the Maharashtra government's decision to make Hindi the mandatory third language for primary classes in state-run schools. The Fadnavis government's move has given Raj and Uddhav a rare — but much needed common cause — of defending Marathi identity. Both have said the protest is not 'political', but the symbolism of the two Thackeray heirs coming together is significant. For one, the protest comes amidst the subtle suggestions by Uddhav's Sena (UBT) about joining hands with Raj's MNS. Two, and more crucially, it is being organised ahead of the civic polls in Maharashtra and at a time when the MNS and the Sena (UBT) are struggling to reclaim political space. A partnership before the local civic polls could give Uddhav and his cadre a much-needed boost while helping Raj secure lost ground. All eyes then will be on the July 5 joint march as it might pave the way for potential political reconciliation between the first cousins. The two leaders announced separate protests against the three-language formula on Thursday, claiming it was a way of 'Hindi imposition' in Maharashtra. Raj, who has been leading the charge against the move, said he would hold a 'Virat Morcha' on July 6 at the Girgaon Chowpatty. Uddhav announced support for a rally at Azad Maidan that is being organised by activist Deepak Pawar a day later. The parallel announcements sparked confusion for a while. Within hours, the two sides began communicating with each other. By Thursday evening, Raj reportedly called Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut with the suggestion of a common protest. Raut is said to have taken the proposal to Uddhav who agreed to it 'immediately'. Early Friday morning, Raut posted a photo of the two cousins together on X. 'There will be a single and united march against compulsory Hindi in Maharashtra schools. Thackeray is the brand,' he captioned the image. Sources said the protest would be 'non-political, open to all, and without party flags' and is aimed at 'evoking a larger Marathi cultural solidarity'. Opposing the policy, which critics say makes Hindi the default third language, fits squarely into the foundational ethos of the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the MNS. Uddhav and Raj's grandfather Prabodhankar Thackeray was one of the leading faces of the Samyukta Maharashtra Movement that led to the splitting of Maharashtra and Gujarat on a linguistic basis. The late Bal Thackeray — who is Uddhav's father and Raj's uncle – launched the Shiv Sena in 1966 as a party to protect the rights and cultural primacy of Marathi youth in Mumbai's job market. The language issue, therefore, carries not just emotional but ideological weight for the Sena and the MNS. Raj had quit the undivided Shiv Sena in 2005 after reportedly 'feeling sidelined' in the party. But when he launched the MNS in 2006, he did not divorce himself from the Sena ideology. He positioned it as a torchbearer of Marathi pride. While Marathi pride has been a common rallying point, Raj and Uddhav have been at loggerheads. There were attempts earlier too to unite Raj and Uddhav. However, MNS sources claim that there was hesitation from Uddhav's side. The fact that they have agreed to come together now signals a thaw in relations. In April, the Maharashtra government introduced a government order that had said that three languages will be taught from Class 1 with Hindi being the mandatory third language. The established practice in Maharashtra has been to introduce a language to students in secondary school or after class 5. The order was withdrawn after criticism, with an assurance that a new GR will be issued to clarify that Hindi will only just be an 'option' for third language. Earlier this month, a new order was issued by the state government that removed the word 'mandatory' in the language policies for the state board. However, with restrictive conditions on alternatives to Hindi as a third language, many are claiming this is just a 'new push' for Hindi by the state government. Raj has taken the most aggressive stand on the issue. MNS leader Sandeep Deshpande said Raj would take the protest against the three-language formula forward. 'We will reach out to all parties that stand for Marathi… This is not Raj Thackeray or Uddhav Thackeray's protest. This is every Marathi person's protest,' Deshpande said. He added the July 5 rally would 'change' Maharashtra's political landscape.
Hindustan Times
5 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
6 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
8 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.
