Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday said the joint protest march planned on July 5 by his party and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) now stands cancelled following the state government’s withdrawal of the Government Resolutions (GR) on Hindi and the three-language policy in state schools, news agency PTI reported.
Amid mounting criticism over the proposed introduction of Hindi from Classes 1 to 5, the Devendra Fadnavis-led cabinet decided to withdraw two GRs related to the implementation of the three-language format under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 on the eve of the legislature’s Monsoon Session.
“The government withdrew the GR that made Hindi mandatory. This is a victory of Marathi unity and fear of Thackerays coming together. The 5 July morcha will not take place now. This is brand Thackeray,” Raut said.
The ruling Mahayuti coalition — comprising the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), and Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena —also announced the formation of a committee headed by Dr Narendra Jadhav to review the three-language policy in detail. A final decision will be taken based on the committee’s report.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said, “In today’s cabinet decision, we have decided to cancel the GR and form a committee to study the three-language format in the education system.”
Taking a swipe at the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), Fadnavis added, “It was the MVA that had accepted the three-language format. In fact, it is Mahayuti that made Marathi mandatory and Hindi optional. But now that we have withdrawn the GR and appointed a committee, the report submitted by Dr Jadhav and other members will be accepted for further action to be taken on the same.”
The chief minister emphasised that the Marathi-speaking population and students are central to his government’s decisions and said his administration does not intend to politicise the issue.
In April, the Mahayuti government had issued a GR stating that Maharashtra would implement the three-language format under NEP 2020, with Hindi as the third language. Following widespread backlash, the order was later revised to clarify that Hindi would not be mandatory but optional. However, critics viewed this as a covert attempt to promote Hindi.
According to NEP guidelines, of the three languages taught in schools, two must be Indian languages, with the regional language being compulsory.
(With PTI inputs)
