Protest march turns into victory rally as Thackeray brothers set to share stage over Hindi row on July 5

Mumbai: A day after the Maharashtra government withdrew two government resolutions (GRs) on introducing Hindi in primary classes and set up a committee headed by veteran economist, writer and educationalist Dr Narendra Jadhav, the Thackeray cousins - Uddhav and Raj - on Monday made it clear that under no circumstances they would allow Hindi to be taught in Classes 1-5.

Talking to reporters separately, Uddhav, a former chief minister and Shiv Sena (UBT) head and Raj, the MNS president, said that the July 5 protest march has been changed to a victory meeting-cum-rally and would be held on the same day.

Meanwhile, Worli MLA Aaditya Thackeray, the son of Uddhav and nephew of Raj, slammed the BJP for dividing Marathi people.

“They are making all efforts to divide Marathi people…they are making all efforts to ensure that the two brothers (Uddhav and Raj) don’t come together,” he said.

Reacting to the statement, Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said: “We have no objections…let them come together…let them play cricket, hockey, football, tennis, swimming together....let them have food together.”

As the monsoon session of the Maharashtra legislature commenced, the members of the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi comprising Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) were in a celebratory mood for having pushed the Maha Yuti government to withdraw the two GRs.

"We have smashed the heads of those who hate Marathi. Before they raise their heads again and the next crisis hits us, we should maintain this unity. We are talking to everyone. We need to show the same unity in the victory celebration," Uddhav said. "The issue of making Hindi compulsory is over, and the Marathi unity will be on display on July 5," he added.

On the Narendra Jadhav committee, Uddhav said: “I am warning the government not to take the matter lightly. This pertains to education, and you have appointed an economist," he said.

“I don’t understand why there was such insistence on bringing in Hindi. Earlier, Hindi was taught from around Class 5 or 6, and that was acceptable. But why push it from Class 1 now? Hindi is not the rashtra bhasha (national language) to be imposed on other states,” said Raj.

""People are trying to make the 150 to 200-year-old Hindi language appear superior to Marathi, which has a history of over 3,000 years. This is unacceptable, and I will not allow it,” he added.

On the Narendra Jadhav committee, Raj added: “I reiterate that, whether or not the report of the new committee appointed by the government comes, it is certain that Hindi will not be taught from the first grade in the state.”