Raj Thackeray-led party urges Sangh to convince the state government to withdraw decision, saying move will weaken Hindu unity
MNS chief Raj Thackeray, who recently expressed willingness to set aside his differences with his cousin, Shiv Sena (UBT) President Uddhav Thackeray, to safeguard the interests of Maharashtra. File Pic
With the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Maharashtra government unwilling to budge on its decision to make Hindi a compulsory language from Std I, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has urged the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to intervene and put a stop to the move.
In a letter addressed to the RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, MNS leader Sandeep Deshpande has mentioned that enforcing Hindi as a compulsory language under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 would be met with resistance in many states with strong regional identities, ultimately weakening Hindu unity. “Instead of uniting Hindus, the government's move will create division in the broader Hindu community,” the MNS leader stated in his letter.
Deshpande stated that RSS is an ideological establishment and should intervene to avoid a split among Hindu communities. “The RSS should intervene to stop the enforcement of the rule that makes Hindi mandatory as a compulsory language.” In Maharashtra, the Raj Thackeray-led MNS and the Shiv Sena led by Uddhav Thackeray have strongly opposed the state government’s decision, with the estranged cousins even exhibiting a willingness to put aside their differences and reunite for the cause of Marathi and in the interest of the state.
Pic/Facebook/Sandeep Deshpande Adhikrut
According to a government resolution, the current two-language format in schools will be replaced by a three-language structure under the NEP, with Hindi made mandatory, in addition to English and Marathi. Southern states, especially Tamil Nadu, which follow a two-language formula (Tamil and English), have strongly opposed this.
‘Didn’t set conditions’
Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut, yesterday, reacted to news reports of a possible roadblock on the path to reunion between estranged cousins Raj and Uddhav Thackeray, as the UBT leader had mentioned certain conditions before endorsing the potential alliance. Speaking to the media, Raut said, “Shiv Sena (UBT) has not put forward any condition. What the party chief has said reflects the sentiments and feelings of the people of Maharashtra. Those viewing Uddhav-ji’s statement as a condition need lessons in understanding the difference between conditions and popular sentiments.”
Last week, the MNS chief, on a podcast, mentioned that he was willing to set aside differences with Uddhav Thackeray to safeguard the interests of Maharashtra. Responding to Raj’s statement, Uddhav, during a party event held in Mumbai on Saturday, agreed to bury the hatchet, but with a rider: the MNS chief should not entertain leaders who are working “against the interests of the Marathi-speaking people and Maharashtra”. Quick to respond, MNS leaders objected to Uddhav’s words.
Deshpande, on Saturday, said, “How can talks progress, if one [Uddhav] sets conditions even before the channels for communication are opened?” The MNS leader asked whether it, too, should put conditions, such as asking the UBT camp to end its alliance with the Congress and Sharad Pawar-led NCP, before beginning talks.
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