‘Won’t Allow Compulsion…’: Uddhav Thackeray Opposes 3-Language Policy In Maharashtra | Politics News
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Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Friday asserted he would not accept any attempt by the Maharashtra government to implement a three-language policy in the state.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray (Image: PTI)
Amid the ongoing language row in Maharashtra, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Friday asserted that will not allow Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis-led government to implement a three-language policy in the state.
While speaking to reporters in Vidhan Bhavan premises on the last day of the monsoon session of the assembly, Thackeray said that his party is not against the Hindi language; however, he had accused a few groups of comparing Marathi people to terrorists and undermining Marathi identity.
“…I stand by my sentiments. We don’t oppose any language, but we won’t allow compulsion for any language,” he said as quoted by news agency ANI.
#WATCH | Mumbai, Maharashtra: On the Hindi language controversy, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray says, “…I stand by my sentiments. We don’t oppose any language, but we won’t allow compulsion for any language.” pic.twitter.com/VFNMx2FRg8— ANI (@ANI) July 18, 2025
The former Chief Minister further took a veiled dig at the ruling BJP and accused the government of shifting industries and financial centres of Mumbai to Gujarat.
“We are not speaking ‘todne ki bhasha’ but Mumbai is gradually losing its significance. Who took the industries and financial centres of Mumbai to Gujarat? These people. So, nobody can separate Mumbai from Maharashtra. Jo bhi karega hum unke tukde karenge, I say this openly. But we won’t let (anything happen to) Mumbai’s significance. Mumbai is the capital of Maharashtra, it is considered the financial capital of the country,” he said.
“Its significance feels like an eyesore to some people. Where were they shifting the film industry to? Who was shifting it? I? Is that not the truth? Who took away the Diamond Market? Is that not the truth? A financial centre was going to be set up here, but who is giving bullet trains to Ahmedabad? People can see this openly. There is nothing more to add,’ he added.
Tarnished State’s Image
The Sena (UBT) chief also expressed his concern over the scuffle between supporters of two MLAs from BJP and NCP (SP) in the state assembly lobby on Thursday, maintaining the incident had tarnished Maharashtra’s image.
“The image of Maharashtra has gone down in the country after the incident.” The opposition MLC hit out at the BJP-led Mahayuti government, noting the conduct of those in power was bringing shame to the dignity of the state.
Asked about comparisons being drawn between Thursday’s violent clash and lawlessness in other states, the Shiv Sena (UBT) president said, “I will not say that such scuffles are bringing UP-Bihar culture to Maharashtra. There are good people in those states as well. We should not malign the image of an entire state because of some bad elements.”
Uddhav Thackeray-Fadnavis Meet
Thackeray’s comments came a day after he and his son Aaditya Thackeray met the Chief Minister on Thursday.
The three leaders held a 20-minute discussion in Fadnavis’s ante-chamber, once again setting off political speculation. But, contrary to all the buzz surrounding shifting alliances and loyalties in state politics, they discussed the post of the opposition leader in the state assembly and the issue of alleged Hindi imposition via the three-language formula.
Thackeray also handed over a compilation of news articles opposing the introduction of Hindi as a third language in Maharashtra, as he cited concerns of alleged linguistic imposition.
Language Row In Maharashtra
A string of violent incidents targeting non-Marathi speaking people have brought the state into limelight. Thackeray brothers– Shiv Sena (UBT’s) Uddhav Thackeray and MNS’ Raj Thackeray– have been targeting the BJP-led state government for trying to ‘impose’ Hindi in Maharashtra and migrants for not speaking Marathi.
Last week, an auto-rickshaw driver in Maharashtra’s Palghar was thrashed in public, allegedly by the supporters of Uddhav Sena and Raj Thackeray’s MNS over his refusal to speak Marathi.
A video of the auto-rickshaw driver, a migrant, went viral, showing him arguing with another migrant from Uttar Pradesh, Bhavesh Padolia, at Virar station. He said in the video that he would only speak Hindi when he was asked why he was not speaking in Marathi.
Earlier, MNS workers threw stones and vandalised the office of a businessman named Sushil Kedia, who had earlier issued an open dare to Raj Thackeray, stating that he would not be intimidated by MNS workers or be forced to learn Marathi under pressure.
Earlier this month, a shopkeeper in Mumbai’s Mira Road was assaulted after he allegedly refused to speak in Marathi.
Earlier this month, the Thackeray cousins shared the stage for the first time in two decades at the Awaj Marathicha rally in Mumbai to celebrate the rollback of the controversial Hindi language policy in primary schools in Maharashtra.
The language row erupted when the Maharashtra government issued an order in April to make Hindi as the compulsory third language for students in their primary classes. Amid backlash from regional parties, the NDA government amended its April 16 Government Resolution (GR) on June 17, changing Hindi from a compulsory to an optional subject.
(With inputs from agencies)
Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben…Read More
Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben… Read More
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