BJP accused of plotting to divide India by imposing Hindi
Maharashtra parties vow to oppose BJP’s Hindutva agenda
Mumbai : Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) and Maharashtra Congress have strongly opposed the imposition of Hindi over Marathi language in Maharashtra vowing that Bharatiya Janata Party’s agenda of pushing Hindu, Hindi and Hindu Rashtra is unacceptable. The BJP was asked whether the imposition of Hindi is meant to to divide India.
According to Kashmir Media Service, NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule speaking to reporters in Pune said that undermining Marathi in the forceful implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 in Maharashtra would not be tolerated. Sule’s statement comes amid the opposition’s outcry over the Maharashtra government’s decision to make Hindi a mandatory third language for students of Classes 1 to 5 in Marathi and English-medium schools across the state, in a departure from the practice of studying two languages.
The Baramati MP said, “If the implementation of the NEP in Maharashtra causes any loss to the Marathi language, it will not be tolerated. Marathi will be the priority” .
“Making anything mandatory is not appropriate. Marathi is the mother tongue of residents of the state and should remain the first language,” she added.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra Congress accused the BJP-led Mahayuti government of trying to destroy the Marathi language, identity and culture by imposing Hindi as a compulsory language in classes 1 to 5 in English and Marathi schools.
The state unit chief Harshwardhan Sapkal said, “The Marathi language is the identity and culture of Maharashtra, and the BJP government is trying to undermine this very culture.
Unity in diversity is India’s true identity, and the BJP is conspiring to erase that. The decision to impose Hindi as a compulsory language from the primary level is completely wrong and must be withdrawn immediately.”
“On one hand, there’s talk of granting Marathi the status of a classical language, and on the other, efforts are being made to sideline it — this is a hypocritical stance. Language is not just a medium of communication; it’s a cultural expression. How are students expected to study other subjects when they’re burdened with three compulsory languages? This compulsion will deprive children of foundational knowledge. Regional languages must be respected. While other languages deserve appreciation too, the BJP’s intent is to eliminate regional cultures and languages. This decision could also threaten the jobs of teachers of other languages. The BJP’s agenda of pushing Hindu, Hindi, and Hindu Rashtra is unacceptable, and Congress strongly opposes such enforcement,” added Sapkal.
He questioned, “Why is Hindi strongly opposed in South India, but being forced upon in Maharashtra? Is this language imposition a means to divide the country? And are Marathi-speaking people not Hindus?” The Congress leader further said that the BJP is attempting to eliminate the very language in which Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj ran his Hindavi Swarajya — this is a direct attack.
Sapkal’s statement comes days after Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis strongly defended the state government’s decision.
