After Tamil Nadu, Three-Language Policy Heats Maharashtra Politics: Government Drops Mandatory Hindi Clause After Backlash

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Tuesday (24 June 2025) criticised the Maharashtra government’s recent meetings on the three-language formula, calling them an “insult” to the Marathi language. He questioned the silence of Marathi literary figures and celebrities, alleging they remained quiet due to their associations with the ruling coalition.

Raut also claimed, "There is no need to force the learning of Hindi in Maharashtra. Why is CM Devendra Fadnavis insisting on it? He is doing something else under this guise." He alleged that several cabinet ministers, despite promoting Marathi, have their own children studying in English-medium schools.

His remarks came just hours before School Education Minister Dadaji Bhuse announced the rollback of the controversial clause that had made Hindi compulsory as a third language in Classes 1 to 5 in Marathi and English-medium schools.

Bhuse emphasised that the three-language formula under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 will still apply but with greater flexibility, and no language will be imposed. The revised guidelines allow students to choose any two Indian languages alongside a third language.

The earlier decision, announced last week, had triggered criticism from opposition parties, linguists, and Marathi organisations. As per a report by The New Indian Express, Raut accused CM Fadnavis and Dy CM Eknath Shinde of “spoiling the atmosphere” and “holding meaningless meetings” instead of taking swift policy action.

Bhuse also added that Hindi was only placed alongside English for its widespread communication use and was never meant to override regional linguistic priorities.