‘We need to know their stand and exact plans’: Sharad Pawar on participating in Uddhav and Raj-led protest against Hindi

While speaking in Kolhapur, Sharad Pawar said it was good that the two are burying their past differences, and are coming together for the cause of the Marathi language. “If the Thackerays want all political parties to join the protests, we need to know their stand and exact plans concerning the issue,” said Pawar.

“Fifty-five per cent of the country’s population speaks Hindi, and one cannot ignore it. People of Maharashtra are not anti-Hindi, but it is not right to impose the language on young students in classes 1 to 4. During this age, the mother tongue is more important.”

Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray Thursday announced separate protests over the issue. Raj said they would hold a ‘Virat Morcha’ from Girgaon Chowpatty in South Mumbai on July 6, and Uddhav extended support to a protest organised by academic and activist Deepak Pawar at Azad Maidan the next day.

On Friday, Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Sanjay Raut said both leaders will now hold a march together. “There will be a single and united march against compulsory Hindi in Maharashtra schools. Thackeray is the brand!” Raut posted on X.

The Maharashtra government’s decision to introduce Hindi as a mandatory third language from classes 1 to 5 in Marathi- and English-medium schools of the state board drew flak from several quarters. Following the backlash, the state government issued an amended order last week stating Hindi will “generally” be taught as the third language to students in Marathi- and English-medium schools from classes 1 to 5.

It also added a provision allowing students to opt for another Indian language if at least 20 students from the same class in a school make such a request.