MUMBAI, June 6: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray has called on the state government to issue a written directive ensuring that only Marathi and English are taught from Grade 1 in state board-affiliated schools, reigniting a simmering controversy over the inclusion of Hindi as a third language.
In a letter dated June 2 to School Education Minister Dada Bhuse — which Thackeray shared publicly on Wednesday — the MNS leader demanded the immediate withdrawal of a state directive mandating Hindi as a third language for students in Classes 1 to 5. He warned that the party would launch statewide protests if the government failed to comply.
The Maharashtra government had earlier announced that Hindi would be made compulsory for students studying in Marathi and English medium schools between Grades 1 and 5, in line with the New Education Policy (NEP). The move triggered sharp criticism from regional parties, particularly the MNS, which accused the state of succumbing to external pressures and undermining Marathi linguistic identity.
“Why hasn’t the government withdrawn the order despite assurances? Is the state under pressure from some quarters?” Thackeray wrote in his letter, questioning the rationale behind the earlier decision.
Amid mounting opposition, the government had stayed its April directive, with Minister Bhuse announcing that a fresh government resolution (GR) would be issued to clarify the matter. However, no such GR has been issued yet, leading to renewed calls for action.
Thackeray’s intervention is the latest in a series of political challenges to the integration of Hindi into Maharashtra’s school curriculum. The MNS has long maintained that education in the state should prioritize Marathi and English, without the imposition of additional languages from the Centre.
The language row comes at a time of heightened political sensitivity in Maharashtra, with the ruling Maha Yuti-NDA coalition facing increasing scrutiny from regional parties ahead of the upcoming state elections.
