Now language row hits Maharashtra as state rolls out NEP, makes Hindi mandatory for Class 1-5

MNS founder-President Raj Thackeray said the MNS won't tolerate the compulsion and wouldn't allow the Centre to 'Hindi-fy' everything to move ahead in Maharashtra.

Mumbai: Amid the North vs South debate, the Maharashtra government has begun implementation of the New Education Policy (NEP) making Hindi as a third language which will be mandatory for students in Classes 1 to 5 in Marathi and English medium schools triggering strong reactions from opposition parties and Raj Thackeray who called for strong opposition from the parents.

The three-language formula has been brought for these classes in Maharashtra as a part of the new curriculum implementation under the NEP 2020.

According to a Government Resolution (GR) , all schools in the state, except Marathi and English medium schools, follow the three language formula.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has defended the move.

"We have already implemented the NEP. Hence, no new decisions have been taken in this regard. It is our insistence that everyone in Maharashtra should know Marathi. Also, there should be a single language for communication across the country. Hindi is a language that can be a language for communication. Therefore, people should also learn Hindi, this is our effort," Fadnavis said.

Congress Legislative Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar criticised the move saying it hurts the Marathi pride. "We would have had no problem if HIndi is made an optional language. But making it mandatory is like imposing it. It is wrong to hurt Marathi sentiments. Can we demand Marathi as a third language in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh,” he said pointing out that the states have been created by linguistic reorganisation. “The local language is a priority and Hindi should have been kept optional, he said.

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena founder-President Raj Thackeray said the MNS won't tolerate the compulsion and wouldn't allow the Centre to 'Hindi-fy' everything to move ahead in Maharashtra.

“We are Hindus but not Hindi! If you try to paint Maharashtra as Hindi, then there is bound to be a struggle in Maharashtra. If you look at all this, you will realise that the government is deliberately creating this struggle. Is this all an attempt to create a struggle between Marathi and non-Marathi people in the upcoming elections and take advantage of it,” Raj said in a post on X.

"Every language is beautiful and there is a long history and tradition behind its formation. And its respect should be maintained in the state where it is the language. Just as Marathi should be respected by other speakers in Maharashtra, so should all speakers of that language be respected in other states. It is our insistence that even the Marathi people living in other states should consider the language of that state as their own. But if you are going to ignore this and try to ruin the linguistic tradition of this country, we do not accept it,” said Raj.