Samajwadi Party leader Rais Shaikh
Credit: X/@rais_shk
Mumbai: The RSS and BJP have an agenda to impose a third language on everyone, veteran Samajwadi Party leader Rais Shaikh said.
Shaikh, who is an MLA from Bhiwandi East in Thane district, said that the Maha Yuti government's decision to introduce Hindi as a compulsory third language from Class 1 in the current academic year.
“The decision is wrong and will discuss with senior leaders of the party about participating in the march organised for Marathi language in Mumbai on July 5,” he said.
“Marathi and English are already compulsory from Class 1 in state schools. Now, the Mahayuti government has made Hindi a compulsory third language. We are against making Hindi compulsory from Class I. However, if the government wants to introduce Hindi, then it can introduce it from Class V,” explained Shaikh.
"The Opposition parties have taken a firm stand against the move to make Hindi compulsory from the first standard. We support this stance,” he said.