30 June,2025 05:26 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray asserted that unity in the state should be maintained. File photo
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Monday celebrated the withdrawal of the three-language policy in the state and stated that they had "punched" Marathi haters. He asserted that the unity in the state should remain as it is.
The former chief minister also said that a new committee led by Dr Narendra Jadhav would report on the decision and that the government had appointed financial experts to advise on the education sector's policies.
"We have punched Marathi haters; this unity should remain as it is. We appreciate the political parties which came together with us despite different stands. Temporarily, they (the Government) have cancelled the GR. If they hadn't cancelled, they would have seen the protest on 5th July. Many leaders from Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar's NCP are going to join us. A new committee led by Dr Narendra Jadhav will report on this. The government has appointed financial experts for the education sector's decision. We will stage a victory rally on 5th July," Thackeray told reporters.
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament, Sanjay Raut, condemned the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for "falsely"
claiming that Thackeray had accepted the Mashelkar Committee's report on the three-language policy.
Addressing the media, Raut stated that lying had become the BJP's "national policy". Further challenging the ruling party, Raut said if Thackeray had indeed submitted the Mashelkar report, it should have been made public.
"Lying is the BJP's national policy. These people are working with this policy in Maharashtra. If Uddhav Thackeray had submitted a report on the Mashelkar committee, it should be made public. A committee report has been released and placed in the cabinet. Can't this be discussed? You forcefully discussed Hindi with the cabinet - you did it because it's a national policy. If any national policy comes before the state, then discussing it is very important. Devendra Fadnavis has become the Chief Minister three times - doesn't he have that much knowledge?" Raut said, speaking at a press conference.
On April 16, the Maharashtra government passed a resolution mandating Hindi as the compulsory third language in Marathi and English-medium schools.
However, in response to public backlash, the government amended the policy on June 17, stating, "Hindi will be the third language. For those who wish to learn another language, at least 20 willing students are required."
(With ANI inputs)
