Congress state president Harshvardhan Sapkal said the government had “betrayed” Maharashtra. (image-X/INCHarshsapkal)
Maharashtra: The Maharashtra government on Tuesday issued a resolution reintroducing Hindi as a third optional-cum-compulsory language in Marathi and English medium schools for classes 1 to 5, sparking immediate backlash from opposition parties and language activists who termed it a “backdoor imposition” of Hindi.
The government order, while stating that Hindi will “generally” be the third language, allows schools to offer an alternative Indian language if at least 20 students per grade request it. However, the state won’t provide teachers for non-Hindi third languages; such subjects will be taught only through digital platforms, prompting criticism that the policy structurally favours Hindi.
The move contradicts earlier statements by School Education Minister Dada Bhuse, who in April said Hindi would not be mandatory in primary classes. He had also claimed the three-language formula was on hold and that further decisions would follow parental consultations.
The Congress accused Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis of “stabbing the Marathi people in the chest,” alleging that the policy is a covert implementation of the BJP-RSS’s “One Nation, One Language” agenda. Congress state president Harshvardhan Sapkal said the government had “betrayed” Maharashtra and called for widespread protests.
He accused Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar of betraying their Marathi roots, suggesting their allegiance lies with the BJP’s central leadership in Delhi. He further alleged that the education ministry, held by Shinde’s Shiv Sena faction, was complicit in “killing Marathi” through this policy.
फडणवीसांनी पुन्हा एकदा महाराष्ट्राच्या आणि माय मराठीच्या छातीत सुरा भोसकून घात केला!
तिसरी भाषा म्हणून हिंदीची सक्ती रद्द केली’ असं सांगून जनतेची फसवणूक केली गेली. पण सरकारचा जीआर काय सांगतो?
➡️ हिंदी हीच सक्तीची तिसरी भाषा असणार,
➡️ इतर कोणतीही भाषा शिकायची असल्यास किमान २०… pic.twitter.com/JvAr3oHqAX
— Harshwardhan Sapkal (@INCHarshsapkal) June 18, 2025
Marathi language advocates echoed the sentiment, with Deepak Pawar of the Marathi Bhasha Abhyas Kendra calling it a “backdoor imposition.” Education expert Vasant Kalpande said it was unlikely for 20 students in any class to opt for a non-Hindi language, especially without teacher support, making Hindi the de facto compulsory language.
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Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) Chief Raj Thackeray wrote a strongly worded letter to all school principals in the state, urging them not to implement the state government’s directive to include Hindi as a third language from Class I.
The order states that Marathi remains a compulsory language across all mediums, while schools with non-Marathi instruction must follow a three-language formula including their medium, Marathi, and English. However, with Hindi favored logistically and no resources for other language options, critics say this effectively forces Hindi into the curriculum.
