Sena UBT, MNS object to Hindi as third Language in Maharashtra primary wing

Mumbai: With Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) protesting the state's decision to make Hindi mandatory as a third language for primary wing students in Marathi and English-medium schools, Shiv Sena UBT has also voiced its opposition to the Fadnavis government's move.

Sena UBT said Hindi is already spoken in Maharashtra and if it has to be made mandatory, it should be done in southern or northeastern states.

"In Maharashtra, Marathi should be spoken first. Marathi is the state language; it is the number one language. It is our mother tongue. While it is mandatory to learn Marathi, it is not followed. This is only on paper," Shiv Sena UBT MP Sanjay Raut said.


Accepting that Hindi is most widely spoken in the country, Raut said: "Why are they making Hindi mandatory here? There is no need to teach us Hindi. This is the land where the sun has risen on Hindi films, the Hindi film industry thrives here, we all listen to Hindi songs, watch Hindi films. What (new) Hindi will you teach us? We are already speaking Hindi. Why are you forcing it here; force it in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh or northeast."

Slamming BJP leaders for not espousing the cause of Marathi, Raut asked why the state government was not making Marathi compulsory in international schools.

Deputy CM Ajit Pawar said: "If you live in Maharashtra, then you need to know Marathi. Those who don't have any work create such controversies. The Centre has given classical language status to Marathi. In Maharashtra, all three languages - Marathi, English, Hindi - should be learnt. Marathi will be number one in the state."

Hitting out at Pawar, MNS' Sandeep Deshpande said: "If Pawar feels that Hindi is a national language, then he should first get an education. He should be admitted in the first standard. Why should we learn Hindi which is a language of another state? Tomorrow, they may make it mandatory to learn Gujarati or Tamil."