The Maharashtra government on Sunday withdrew its revised government order (GR) related to the three-language policy. The government has taken this step due to increasing opposition amid allegations of ‘imposing’ Hindi as a third language. Along with this, the government has announced to set up a new committee for review and implementation of this policy.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that this decision was taken in the meeting of the State Cabinet. He said that a committee will be formed under the chairmanship of Dr. Narendra Jadhav regarding the three-language policy and the manner of its implementation. The policy will be implemented only after the report of this committee.
‘Marathi language is Kendrabindu’
CM Fadnavis also clarified that both GRs related to the three-language policy are being canceled until the recommendations of the committee come. He said that Marathi language is the centerpiece for us.
What was said earlier in the government order?
The state government had issued a revised order, stating that Hindi will be taught as the third language in Marathi and English medium schools from first to fifth grade. This decision was part of phased implementation at the primary level under the National Education Policy 2020. However, it was also mentioned in the order that if at least 20 students in a class want to choose any other Indian language instead of Hindi, then the school will have to arrange that language teacher or that subject can be taught online.
Opposition parties strongly criticized
This move of the Maharashtra government was sharply criticized by the opposition parties. He had alleged that the government is promoting Hindi by ignoring regional languages, which could cause linguistic diversity of the state and damage to Marathi identity. Raj Thackeray -led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) staged a protest against this policy and appealed to Marathi speaking people to come on the streets to protest.
Government bowed before Marathi public sentiment: Raj Thackeray
After this decision of the government, the statement of MNS chief Raj Thackeray has come out, he reacted to the cancellation of both mandations (GR) related to the three-language policy (GR) by the state government and said that Marathi Janabhavana has completely thwarted the attempt to impose Hindi language. Raj Thackeray said that this is not late understanding, but it is the effect of the anger of Marathi people that the government had to retreat. Why the government was so dogmatic about Hindi, and where this pressure was from it, it is still a mystery.