Raj Thackeray Slams Govt Over Imposition of Third Language in Marathi Schools, Accuses State of Language Domination

Mumbai, 18th June 2025: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray has strongly opposed the state government’s proposal to make three languages mandatory from Grade 1 in schools, terming it an attempt to impose language and questioning the government’s real intent behind the policy. He has addressed an open letter to school principals across Maharashtra, urging them not to comply with the policy.

Thackeray has criticized the Education Department for its “confusion” since April, pointing out that the initial plan to enforce Marathi, English, and Hindi as compulsory languages was met with strong opposition from the MNS and the public. While the government later clarified that Hindi would not be mandatory, Thackeray alleged that efforts to indirectly impose the language are still ongoing.

“Hindi is not the national language; it is the regional language of a few northern Indian states,” Thackeray stated. “There is no justification for forcing it in Maharashtra. This is nothing but language imposition, and it is unacceptable.”

Thackeray also questioned why third-language textbooks were being printed if the government claims only two languages are mandatory. He suspects a hidden agenda behind the move and appealed to schools not to cooperate with such efforts.

“Children are being burdened with an unnecessary language, and this must stop,” he said, expressing concern that such a policy could hurt the prominence of the Marathi language. He assured school heads that the MNS would support them if they faced any backlash for resisting the policy.

He emphasized, “Teaching in Marathi and English — the state language and a global language — is sufficient.” Thackeray alleged that the push for Hindi is part of a broader political agenda to establish northern dominance in Maharashtra through language.

Thackeray has also written to the state government demanding a written order clarifying that a third language will not be mandatory. If the government fails to do so, he warned, “We will treat this as an act of betrayal against Maharashtra.”

He urged the government to immediately stop trying to control the education system through linguistic imposition and called on schools across the state to stay vigilant and act wisely before implementing any such policy.