Sharad Pawar vs Raj Thackeray on Hindi-Marathi Language Row in Maharashtra

Political turmoil continues over teaching Hindi language in Maharashtra schools. The decision to make Hindi language compulsory in Maharashtra is becoming a cause of trouble for the Fadnavis government. However, after strong opposition from the opposition, the government has made Hindi optional instead of the third compulsory language. Despite this, the opposition parties continue to protest.

Nationalist Congress Party (SP) chief Sharad Pawar has reacted to the ongoing tussle over the language dispute in the state. He said that it is not right to make Hindi language compulsory in primary education. There is no problem in learning Hindi after class five, because a large population of the country uses Hindi language.

Sharad Pawar said - Excessive burden of language should not be put on young children. If a child moves away from his mother tongue and learns a new language, then it would be wrong. He suggested to the state government to give up its insistence on making Hindi compulsory till class five. Mother tongue should be given priority in any state. After class five, if the parents of a child want him to learn another language, then a decision can be taken.

Raj Thackeray cornered the state government on Marathi language and education policy

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray cornered the state government on Marathi language and education policy. With the announcement of Marathi Asmita March on July 6, he raised questions on the alleged conspiracy to impose Hindi and put the government in the dock on issues like education, employment. In a press conference, he rejected the talk of making the third language compulsory under the National Education Policy (NEP), saying that this policy has been left to the states, yet why is Hindi being imposed in Maharashtra? He termed it a conspiracy to weaken the Marathi language.

Raj Thackeray announced that a huge Marathi Asmita March will be taken out from Girgaon Chowpatty to Azad Maidan in Mumbai on July 6. There will be no flag of any political party in this march. He called it a march of Marathi people and invited all parties, artists, litterateurs and the general public to join it. Thackeray said that 'this march will be held on Sunday so that maximum number of people can participate. I want to see who comes in it and who does not.

Nothing will be imposed in democracy: Deputy CM Eknath Shinde

On the language controversy, Deputy CM Eknath Shinde said that nothing will be imposed in democracy. The compulsory use of the Hindi word has also been removed forcefully. On the Hindi language controversy, Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said, Marathi is necessary in the state, but Hindi can be an alternative language.