The Maharashtra state government’s decision to withdraw two controversial Government Resolutions (GRs) mandating the introduction of Hindi in primary education is being hailed as a victory for Marathi unity. Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, in his reaction, said, "This is a win for the Marathi people’s solidarity. The government was forced to back down after witnessing the strength of united Marathi voices."
Thackeray accused the BJP of attempting to divide Marathi-speaking citizens. “They tried everything to prevent Marathi people from coming together, but the unity displayed by all sections of Marathi society forced the government to retreat,” he said.
Originally, a protest march was planned for July 5 against the Hindi imposition. However, following the government’s withdrawal of the GRs, Thackeray announced that instead of a protest, a ‘Victory March’ or celebratory rally is being considered on the same day. Discussions with other parties and pro-Marathi organizations are underway to finalize the form of the event, he confirmed.
Thackeray criticized the BJP, calling it a "factory of false propaganda." He clarified that a committee under Dr. Raghunath Mashelkar was previously formed to study the National Education Policy. However, the committee’s findings were never implemented due to the fall of the then-MVA government. “I formed the study group, but the GRs were issued by the current government. If I had issued the GRs, why was the Mahayuti government silent for three years? Why didn’t they raise this issue earlier? So BJP is spreading misinformation deliberately,” he stated.
Meanwhile, the state government has announced the formation of a new committee under the leadership of former Planning Commission member Dr. Narendra Jadhav. This committee will examine the recommendations of the Mashelkar Committee and decide whether to implement the three-language policy in the state.
MNS chief Raj Thackeray also responded on social media platform X, calling the withdrawal of the Hindi GRs “a triumph of Marathi unity.” He added, “This was not a result of the government’s wisdom but a direct consequence of pressure from the Marathi public. The government must now engrave this lesson in their memory such attempts to impose languages will no longer be tolerated.”
Raj Thackeray reminded that his party, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), had raised this issue as early as April 2025, sparking widespread support across political and social groups. He warned the government that no further attempts to enforce unwanted language policies will be accepted, regardless of future committee reports. “This decision must be considered final. If the government tries to revive this policy through committee tactics, we will not let that committee function in Maharashtra,” he declared.
Both Uddhav and Raj Thackeray emphasised that this movement should serve as a wake-up call for the Marathi community. “There are people among us who are willing to compromise our language and identity to please others. The collective anger of Marathi minds was visible this time, and it must remain visible in the future,” Uddhav Thackeray concluded.
