Maharashtra: Next anti-Hindi stir

A row is simmering in Maharashtra over the state government's decision to make Hindi a mandatory third language for students of Classes I to V in Marathi and English medium schools across the state, in a departure from the practice of studying two languages.

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Terming the move as an effort to undermine Marathi, the Opposition Shiv Sena (UBT) and the NCP (SP) have vowed to vehemently oppose the three-language policy. The controversy also seems to have brought closer warring cousins Uddhav and Raj Thackeray nearly two decades after their bitter fallout. The estranged first cousins have indicated their willingness to join forces in the larger interest of the Marathi community. If things go this way, it may spell trouble for the BJP-led ruling Mahayuti government in the state at a time when Tamil Nadu is already engaged in a battle with the Centre over the alleged imposition of Hindi in the southern state.