Maharashtra minister accuses opposition leaders of manipulating public sentiment over Marathi and Hindi for electoral benefits
The policy of making Hindi compulsory in Maharashtra schools was approved during the tenure of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government when Uddhav Thackeray served as Chief Minister.
The Dr. Raghunath Mashelkar Committee had recommended mandatory teaching of three languages—Marathi, English, and Hindi—from Classes 1 to 12. This proposal was approved by the state cabinet led by Thackeray.
Despite there being no current move to impose Hindi, Shiv Sena (UBT) is deliberately politicising the issue, alleged Industries and Marathi Language Minister Uday Samant at a press conference held at Balasaheb Bhavan.
“The government’s position is clear—there is no plan to impose or mandate Hindi. But with municipal elections nearing, some people are trying to mislead the public for political gain,” said Samant, aiming the Thackeray faction.
Samant further stated that a task force was constituted to implement the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Led by renowned scientist Dr Raghunath Mashelkar, the committee recommended the inclusion of Marathi, English, and Hindi as compulsory subjects from Class 1 to 12. The report was submitted to the state government and approved in a cabinet meeting chaired by Uddhav Thackeray on January 27, 2022.
“If the Thackeray faction truly opposed the compulsory Hindi provision under NEP 2020, why didn’t they object to it back then?” asked Samant, calling their current opposition a case of 'double standards'.
He accused opposition leaders of manipulating public sentiment over Marathi and Hindi for electoral benefits. “The people of Maharashtra have already witnessed what the Shiv Sena, under Eknath Shinde’s leadership, is capable of achieving in assembly elections,” he added.
₹100 Crore Marathi Language Centre in Mumbai
Samant also announced that a Marathi Language Centre will be set up in Mumbai with an investment of ₹100 crores, and a sub-centre will be established in Airoli. Additionally, the government is organising a Global Marathi Conference along with literary festivals for women, youth, and children.
“Marathi is our mother tongue. Everyone should have the opportunity to learn and cherish it,” Samant emphasised.
He added that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has instructed officials to engage with Marathi literary figures and understand their concerns. A meeting with prominent writers and poets is scheduled for next week.
On Raj Thackeray’s protest march, Samant said the matter will be addressed by the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister. However, as Marathi Language Minister, he is open to meeting Raj Thackeray if necessary.
Timeline of NEP 2020 and the Trilingual Policy in Maharashtra:
• November 2019: Uddhav Thackeray sworn in as Chief Minister
• 2020: National Education Policy (NEP) announced
• October 2020: Task force formed under Dr. Raghunath Mashelkar
• 21 January 2021: Committee submits its report
• 27 January 2022: Cabinet approves the Mashelkar Committee’s recommendations
• Recommendation: Compulsory teaching of Marathi, English, and Hindi from Class 1 to 12
• April 2025: NEP 2020 implementation begins in Maharashtra
Aditya Thackeray’s Earlier Remarks Supporting Hindi
During a press conference, UBT MLA Aditya Thackeray stated: “The more languages you know along with Marathi, the better.”
Citing Singapore’s education model, he argued that students benefit from learning both their mother tongue and English. He also mentioned that UPSC aspirants are expected to communicate in English, Hindi, and their mother tongue.
In effect, Aditya Thackeray had expressed support for the inclusion of Hindi in the education system.
India