Hindi row: Panel to study issue; decision will be as per interest of students, asserts Fadnavis

Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday said a committee will decide whether a third language, including Hindi, should be introduced from Class I in state schools and asserted the decision will taken keeping in mind interest of students and not under political pressure.

The state government had, on Sunday, withdrawn two GRs on the introduction of Hindi and the three-language policy in Classes 1 to 5 in English and Marathi medium schools amid strident protests from the opposition, especially Shiv Sena (UBT) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena.

"The new committee will inform the state along with reasons on whether Hindi or any third language can be taught from standard I or later. We will take decisions in the interests of students and not succumb to any political pressure," he told reporters.

Speaking about the withdrawal of the GRs, Fadnavis said his government had not made it an ego issue.

On Uddhav Thackeray's remarks that the GRs were withdrawn to end chances of a potential alliance between him and cousin Raj Thackeray of the MNS, Fadnavis sarcastically said, "I have not issued any government resolution that two brothers should not come together again." He reiterated that the three-language policy report was accepted when Uddhav Thackeray was chief minister, with one of his (Uddhav) party leaders even recommending making Hindi mandatory from Class I to XII.

"The same decision was approved in his cabinet. As expected, he later took an U-turn. Uddhav Thackeray is against the Hindi language. The name Palturam suits him well," the CM further said.

Asked about the possible political rapprochement between the estranged cousins, Fadnavis said he would he happy if the two come together.

"I hope Uddhav Thackeray also explains his earlier stand. I have no issues if they reunite and play games together," Fadnavis added.

He also rejected Congress state president Harshwardhan Sapkal's charge that the state's earlier order on Hindi was issued under RSS pressure.

"I will only say this much that Sapkal is new," the CM said curtly.

"The Congress is no longer connected with the people. It has stopped going to the people and meeting them. It cannot look beyond EVMs and keeps blaming the Election Commission of India to defend its electoral defeats," he said.

The chief minister also criticised NCP (SP) leader Jayant Patil, who recently opposed the proposed Maharashtra Special Public Security Bill 2024, despite having been part of the committee related to it earlier.

"To be honest, these people have double standards. Their stand changes depending on whether they are in power or in the opposition. We are accountable to the people of Maharashtra and to the Constitution. Anyone insulting the Constitution will face action," he said.

The Bill is intended to act against anarchists, the CM said.

Asked about possible new entrants into the BJP, Fadnavis said the party is open to welcoming leaders from other camps.

"We want to expand. Some people do not see a future in their own parties or do not trust their leadership. That is why they are joining BJP. We welcome them," he said.

Fadnavis also said he had directed the Director General of Maharashtra Police to look into the demand for appointing a senior woman IPS officer to probe allegations of molestation faced by schoolgirls.