Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Saturday launched a fierce attack on the Centre and RSS, alleging they pressured the Mahayuti government into “imposing” Hindi as a third language in Marathi and English medium schools for classes 1 to 5 in Maharashtra.
Raut accused the state government of “destroying Marathi” under the Centre’s influence, claiming veteran RSS leader Bhayyaji Joshi’s recent remark that “Marathi is not Mumbai’s language” reflected the true intent behind the policy. “There was pressure from the RSS on the state government to implement the three-language policy by making Hindi compulsory in Marathi and English schools,” Raut alleged, adding that the Fadnavis government issued the government resolution under the Centre’s directions.
Countering the BJP’s claim that Uddhav Thackeray’s government initiated the process by setting up a high-level committee recommending Hindi, Raut insisted appointing a committee wasn’t the same as enforcing a policy. “Did Uddhav issue a government resolution or ordinance? No. The Fadnavis government did,” Raut said, challenging Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to release the committee report publicly.
Raut announced that the government resolution making Hindi the third language would be burned during a morcha scheduled for July 5, which will see Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray share the stage in a rare show of unity. He said NCP patriarch Sharad Pawar, Congress, Dalit Panthers, PWP, Left parties, and various Marathi organisations would join the protest at Azad Maidan.
He expressed hope that the morcha would create a positive atmosphere and strengthen Marathi unity, especially ahead of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections.
Meanwhile, BJP chief spokesman Keshav Upadhye hit back, saying Uddhav Thackeray had initiated the three-language process himself. He dismissed the allegations against PM Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah as “laughable,” accusing Uddhav of hypocrisy, citing his government’s announcement of an Urdu Bhavan but failure to support Marathi schools during his tenure.
“Where was their love for Marathi then?” Upadhye asked, adding that the BJP was confident people would see through the political stunt and support development.
