Latest news with #VoiceofMarathi
Time of India
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Talking About Mumbai and Language Fights
In Mumbai, some politicians are using language to create fights just to win elections. This is not helpful for the people at all. Here's what happened: The Maharashtra government had said that schoolchildren must learn three languages, including Hindi. But many people didn't like this rule. They felt Hindi was being forced on them. So, the government took back the rule last month. That should have been the end of the issue. But some leaders still want to get attention. Last Saturday, two cousins – Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray – held a big event called Marathicha Awaaz, which means 'Voice of Marathi'. They wanted to show they are fighting for the Marathi language. But things went too far. A sweet shop owner and his worker, who didn't speak Marathi, were slapped by members of Raj Thackeray's party, the MNS, just because they were speaking Hindi. This is very wrong and scary. Raj Thackeray's party has done such things before – like attacking a politician in 2009 just because he took an oath in Hindi. Even after all this, the MNS has never become a big or successful party. They have no seats in Parliament or the Maharashtra assembly now. Now that local elections (like for Mumbai's BMC) are coming, some politicians are again trying to turn Marathi speakers against Hindi speakers. This is a dangerous game. One BJP leader from Jharkhand even replied angrily, saying if Marathi leaders came to states like Bihar or UP, they would be beaten up. This kind of talk only spreads hate. But does this help Mumbai's people? No. It doesn't fix roads, water problems, schools, or hospitals. It doesn't help kids learn better in school either. Maharashtra is a rich and powerful state. It wants to grow into a $1 trillion economy. But that dream won't come true if leaders keep fighting over language and dividing people. We need politics that brings people together, not tears them apart. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer Views expressed above are the author's own.
NDTV
05-07-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Battling 'Hindi Imposition', MK Stalin Welcomes Thackeray Cousins' Reunion
New Delhi: Having led the battle against the three-language component of the National Education Policy, which he calls an attempt at 'Hindi imposition' by the BJP, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has welcomed the coming together of Thackeray cousins Uddhav and Raj in support of the cause. Uddhav Thackeray, president of the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray, who have been fiercely opposed to the three-language policy in Maharashtra, organised the 'Voice of Marathi' rally on Saturday to celebrate the Maharashtra government withdrawing orders on its implementation. The cousins, who shared a stage at a political event for the first time since 2005, hugged and declared that the "distance" between them had been erased. Mr Stalin, who is the chief of the DMK, has been at the forefront of the opposition to the three-language formula, under which students in schools are required to learn three languages, including their mother tongue and at least one other Indian language. The DMK chief has claimed that the BJP-led government at the Centre seeks to impose Hindi on Tamil Nadu by making learning three languages compulsory, replacing the two-language policy - Tamil and English - which is currently followed there. 'Storm Of Protest' In a post on X after the rally on Saturday, Mr Stalin said the struggle for language rights has transcended state boundaries and is finding traction in Maharashtra. "The language rights struggle, waged generation after generation by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the people of Tamil Nadu to defeat Hindi imposition, has now transcended state boundaries and is swirling like a storm of protest in Maharashtra," Mr Stalin wrote. "The BJP, which acts lawlessly and anarchically by stating that funds will be allocated only if Hindi is taught as a third language in Tamil Nadu schools, has been forced to back down for the second time in Maharashtra, where they are in power, due to fear of the people's uprising," he added. Praising Uddhav and Raj Thackeray for their powerful oratory, Mr Stalin said the Centre had no response for the MNS chief's questions on what the third language would be in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, and why Hindi was being "imposed" on people in progressive non-Hindi speaking states. "Hindi-speaking states are economically backward. People are migrating from these states to non-Hindi speaking states. Why didn't Hindi help them progress?" Raj Thackeray had asked in his speech. 'Vindictive Stance' Mr Stalin criticised the Centre for not releasing funds because Tamil Nadu is not implementing the National Education Policy and also hit out at those who claim learning Hindi will get people jobs. "Will the Union government change its vindictive stance of releasing Rs 2,152 crore in funds under the integrated education scheme (Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan) only if Tamil Nadu accepts the new education policy that imposes Hindi and Sanskrit under the guise of the three-language policy? Will it immediately release the funds legally owed for the education of Tamil Nadu's schoolchildren?" the chief minister wrote. In an apparent dig at the AIADMK, he said, "Unaware of the history of numerous Indian languages being destroyed due to Hindi imposition and failing to understand the agenda of turning India into a Hindi nation, some naive individuals here parrot phrases like "learning Hindi will get you jobs." They must reform now. The uprising in Maharashtra will open their eyes to wisdom! Tamil Nadu, the chief minister said, would fight and win, signing off with the hashtag "StopHindiImposition"
NDTV
05-07-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
'Bal Thackeray Must Be Blessing Me': Devendra Fadnavis' Jibe At Uddhav, Raj
Choosing to respond with sarcasm after the Thackeray cousins' 'Voice of Marathi' rally on Saturday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has said Bal Thackeray must be showering him with blessings for bringing them together. The BJP leader's statement was a reference to Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray's remark at the event that, by bringing the cousins together, Mr Fadnavis had done what Bal Thackeray and many others could not. Mr Fadnavis did not spare Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) president Uddhav Thackeray either, remarking that his speech at the rally was less about Marathi and more about how the government led by him was toppled after a rebellion in 2022. "I was told it was supposed to be a 'vijay' (victory) rally, but it turned out to be a 'rudali' (mourning) speech," he said. The rally - organised to celebrate the Maharashtra government withdrawing orders on the implementation of the three-language policy in the state, which the opposition had termed 'Hindi imposition'. saw Uddhav and Raj Thackeray sharing a stage at a political event for the first time since they had a falling out in 2005. In a speech in Marathi after the cousins hugged and held each other's hands aloft, Raj Thackeray said, "What Bal Thackeray could not do, what many others could not do, Devendra Fadnavis did - bring us together... You may have power in the Vidhan Bhawan, we have power on the roads," "The Maharashtra government rolled back the decision on the three-language formula due to the unity shown by the Marathi people. Try to touch Maharashtra and see what happens," he added. Speaking after the MNS chief, Uddhav Thackeray said the "distance" between them had been removed. Mr Thackeray also went on to hit out at the BJP and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, whose rebellion led to a split in the Shiv Sena and the fall of his government, terming him a traitor and accusing him of disrespecting Marathi. Asked about the event later on Saturday. Mr Fadnavis said Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray, who was Uddhav Thackeray's father and Raj Thackeray's uncle, must be giving him his blessings. "I am grateful to Raj Thackeray that he gave me credit for bringing them together. Balasaheb Thackeray must be showering me with blessings," he said. "I was told it would be a victory rally, but it turned out to be a 'rudali' (mourners') speech instead. Instead of talking about Marathi, he (Uddhav Thackeray) kept speaking about how his government fell and blaming other people. It was like getting a 'rudali darshan' (witnessing mourning)," the chief minister mocked. Mr Fadnavis said the Shiv Sena had control over the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation for 25 years, but achieved nothing. "The BJP, under PM Narendra Modi, has changed the face of Mumbai and the Marathi 'manoos' (people) are with us. We have worked for the rights of the Marathi people," he said.
