Not against Hindi, but against forced imposition: Raj Thackeray

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Friday warned the Maharashtra government against imposing Hindi in primary schools (from classes 1 to 5) and threatened to shut down schools if the policy was enforced. He said he was not against any language but would not tolerate compulsion, calling the move an attack on Marathi identity. 

Referring to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s latest statement that Hindi would be taught in State schools at any cost, Mr. Thackeray emphasised that everyone living in Maharashtra must learn Marathi. He urged citizens to remain vigilant against what he called an attempt to impose Hindi under the guise of educational reform.  

Editorial | Language of unity: On Maharashtra and the issue of Hindi

“When they tried to enforce it earlier, we shut down shops. If you [CM] try again to impose Hindi on our schools, we won’t just shut shops — we’ll shut down schools. I will not make any compromises over Marathi and the people of Maharashtra. Those who live in Maharashtra, to them I would like to say, ‘learn Marathi as soon as possible, wherever you go, speak Marathi’.” 

The comments came in the wake of the BJP-led State government’s controversial policy decision — since rolled back — that would have made Hindi mandatory in primary schools. The move drew sharp resistance from regional parties, including the MNS and the Shiv Sena (UBT). Though the government has since revoked the two government resolutions, Mr. Fadnavis recently asserted that the three-language formula would still be implemented, with a committee now tasked with deciding the grade level at which Hindi would be introduced. 

‘Loses identity’

Addressing a rally in Mira Bhayandar, Mr. Thackeray said: “I can speak better Hindi than most politicians in Maharashtra. My father was fluent in it. I am not against any language, but I am against its forced imposition. There is no harm in learning a regional language. There are so many languages in this country, such as Maithili, etc. By imposing Hindi, the regional languages dies eventually and loses its identity, which is the case already in many Hindi speaking States.”  

The MNS chief accused the BJP of using Hindutva as a cover to promote Hindi dominance, stating, “This is not nationalism; it is linguistic domination under the garb of religion.” 

Calling it “unfortunate” that the Chief Minister of Maharashtra was advocating for compulsory Hindi, Mr. Thackeray questioned the intent behind the move. “This is not just about language. They are testing the waters. Their long-term goal is to sever Mumbai from Maharashtra and merge it with Gujarat,” he alleged. 

The MNS chief emphasised the cultural depth of Marathi, claiming it has a 2,500 to 3,000-year-old legacy, compared to Hindi, which he called “just 200 years old.” He said the government’s actions were an affront to Marathi identity and pride. 

He also referred to historical figures such as Morarji Desai and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, alleging that they held anti-Marathi views after Independence, and urged Maharashtrians to assert themselves by speaking in Marathi in all public and official spaces. “Wherever you go in Maharashtra, speak in Marathi — and make others speak it too,” he said. 

Taking a swipe at the BJP Godda (Jharkhand) MP’s threat that “Marathi logon ko hum yahan pe patak patak ke maarenge” [We will thrash Marathi people in our region], Mr. Thackeray strongly retaliated and said, “I dare you come to Mumbai, and ‘Mumbai ke samundar mein hum dubo dubo ke maarenge‘ [we will drown you in Mumbai’s sea].” 

The rally, which comes days after MNS workers roughed up a shopkeeper for refusing to speak in Marathi, reflects rising tensions over language politics in the State and signals the party’s intent to position itself at the forefront of the Marathi pride movement ahead of upcoming political battles.