Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai

Mumbai, Jun 29: A heated political row has erupted in Maharashtra over the alleged move to make Hindi compulsory in all school classes, with deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde hitting back at the Shiv Sena (UBT) for what he termed ‘double-faced politics.’

Responding to demands for School Education Minister Dada Bhuse’s resignation, Shinde reminded critics that it was the previous government that had endorsed the three-language formula Marathi, English, and Hindi as per the Raghunath Mashelkar Committee recommendations.

“When they were in power, their stance was different. Now they’re changing their tune. Those who practise double-faced politics have no right to demand the resignation of Dada Bhuse,” Shinde told ANI, defending his government’s push for making Marathi mandatory in schools.

The controversy began after Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray objected to what he called the “imposition” of Hindi in schools, calling it an unnecessary burden on students. “No language should be forced. Why just Hindi? Focus on what students are already learning and improve that,” Thackeray said, demanding Bhuse’s resignation.

Joining the debate, NCP supremo Sharad Pawar also voiced his concerns over linguistic pressure on young learners. “Hindi is a widely spoken language, but it should not be forced at the primary level. Children can be introduced to Hindi after class 5. But we must consider how many languages a child can realistically learn without sidelining their mother tongue,” Pawar stated.

Pawar urged the state government to reconsider its decision, warning against any move that could marginalise regional languages in early education.