Maharashtra government on backfoot in language dispute, withdraws order of three-language policy

Mumbai. 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 growing opposition amid allegations of ‘imposing’ Hindi as the third language. Along with this, the government has announced the formation of a new committee to review and implement this policy.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that this decision was taken in the state cabinet meeting. He said that a committee will be formed under the chairmanship of Dr. Narendra Jadhav regarding the three-language policy and its implementation method. The policy will be implemented only after the report of this committee comes.

‘Marathi language is the center point’
CM Fadnavis also clarified that both the GRs related to the three-language policy are being canceled until the recommendations of the committee come. He said that Marathi language is the center point for us.

What was said in the government order earlier?
The state government had issued a revised order, which said that Hindi will be taught as the third language from class 1 to 5 in Marathi and English medium schools. This decision was part of the phased implementation at the primary level under the National Education Policy 2020. However, the order also mentioned 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 for a teacher of that language or that subject can be taught online.

Sharp criticism by opposition parties
Opposition parties strongly criticized this move of the Maharashtra government. He alleged that the government is promoting Hindi by ignoring regional languages, which can harm the linguistic diversity and Marathi identity of the state. Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) protested against this policy and appealed to Marathi speaking people to come out on the streets and express their opposition.

Government bowed to Marathi public sentiment: Raj Thackeray
After this decision of the government, a statement of MNS chief Raj Thackeray has come to the fore, reacting to the cancellation of both the Government Orders (GR) related to the three-language policy by the state government, he said that the Marathi public sentiment has completely foiled the attempt to impose the Hindi language. Raj Thackeray said that this is not a late understanding, but it is the effect of the anger of the Marathi people that the government had to retreat. Why the government was so dogmatic about Hindi, and where did this pressure come from, it is still a mystery.