The Maharashtra government’s controversial decision to introduce Hindi as a mandatory option for students from Class 1 has triggered sharp political reactions across the state. In response, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray announced a massive rally on July 5 from Girgaon Chowpatty, challenging the state government and inviting all political parties, ncluding Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT), to unite for the cause of Marathi.
Addressing the issue, Raj Thackeray accused the state government of indirectly forcing Hindi upon Marathi students. “The state announced a new rule making Hindi a mandatory option for Classes 1 to 4. This is an indirect imposition of Hindi, and we will not tolerate it. This rally will be led by Marathi people, no party flags, no politics, only Marathi pride,” he said.
He further added, “We have rejected the Education Minister’s justification completely. The state has no answer as to why Hindi must be pushed when it is not part of the national education policy. This is a conspiracy influenced by the Centre and certain IAS officers. We will not accept this, and our protest will continue until the decision is reversed.”
Raj announced that literary experts, educationists, students, teachers, and parents from across Maharashtra have been invited to join the rally, making it a united effort to defend the state’s linguistic heritage.
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray expressed solidarity with Raj’s stand. Criticising the state government, he said, “We have no issue with the Hindi language, but we oppose its imposition. What is being attempted is a ‘linguistic emergency’, an agenda to eradicate Marathi from Maharashtra. The state announced that Hindi would be made compulsory from Class 1 despite earlier claiming it wouldn’t be. This is a conspiracy to destroy Marathi culture.”
He added, “If the Chief Minister announced that Hindi wouldn’t be forced, why is this happening? What are they trying to prove? We respect Hindi as a language, but making it mandatory is akin to imposing dictatorship. The state is plotting to eliminate the Marathi identity, and it is our duty to unite against this decision.”
