Opposition Slams Maharashtra Govt Over Fresh Order Giving 'Generally' Third Language Status to Hindi
New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Maharashtra government has issued a fresh order saying that Hindi will be taught as a third language to students of classes 1-5 in Marathi and English medium schools in the state.
The new order stated that Hindi will “generally” be the third language instead of being “mandatory”. It added that the students have an option to opt out if 20 students per grade in a school express the desire to study any Indian language other than Hindi, reported Deccan Herald.
The opposition has slammed the Devendra Fadnavis-led state government over the development.
“This agenda of 'One Nation, One Language, One Culture' of the RSS and BJP has risen to the core of Maharashtra and we will not sit idly by until it is rejected,” said Maharashtra Congress President Harshavarshan Sapkal.
Sapkal termed the move as the BJP’s “anti-Maharashtra agenda” and a conspiracy to eliminate the Marathi language, Marathi identity and Marathi people.
“This makes it clear that Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar's loyalty is not to Maharashtra or the Marathi people, but to the people of Delhi. The Shinde Group, which repeatedly mentions Balasaheb Thackeray's name, has the education ministry and has taken the initiative to kill Marathi in the same way that they stabbed the Shiv Sena in the back. Ajit Pawar is so desperate for power that he has nothing to do with Maharashtra, Marathi language, or whether Marathi people live or die. Ajit Pawar's policy is only to get the finance portfolio,” added Sapkal.
Raj Thackeray writes open letter to teachers
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray also launched an attack on the government and wrote an open letter to principals of all schools of Maharashtra.
“While we are raising this issue with you, we have also sent a similar letter to the government. We have firmly told the government that we need a written letter stating that Hindi language or any third language in general will not be taught. They may or may not issue such a letter, but if your actions support the government's hidden agenda, we will surely consider it as a betrayal of Maharashtra… Do keep in mind that there is growing discontent in Maharashtra regarding this imposition of languages! Word to the wise! What more can I say?,” Thackeray said in the letter.
Reacting to the developments, Chief Minister Fadnavis added that the “compulsion” to learn Hindi was removed from the new order, and now any Indian language can be chosen as the third language.
“While English is widely promoted, Indian languages are often neglected. I had a discussion with him (Thackeray)…he wanted two languages, however, as per the NEP, there are three languages and we have to accept it…what is the harm in it…to clarify, we have removed the requirement to make Hindi compulsory and allowed students to choose any Indian language if there are at least 20 students interested,” Fadnavis told reporters.
In April this year, after receiving massive flak for its decision to make Hindi mandatory as the third language in classes 1-5 in Marathi and English medium schools, the Maharashtra government had rolled back the move.
“The word mandatory will be removed…The three-language formula remains, but schools must accommodate other language choices if a significant number of students in a class request it,” Maharashtra school education minister Dadaji Bhuse had said after a meeting of the state cabinet.
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