By team abhyaspeeth 
Special Correspondent | Mumbai
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray has issued a stern warning to the state government over its decision to make Hindi compulsory from Class 1 in the revised state school curriculum. Thackeray stated that if the government dares to challenge public sentiment and enforce the mandatory teaching of Hindi, the resulting unrest in Maharashtra will be inevitable — and the government alone will be responsible for it.
Taking to social media platform X, Thackeray lashed out at the Union government’s ongoing push for “Hindi imposition” across India. “Hindi is not the national language. It is one of the many regional languages of India. Why should it be taught compulsorily in Maharashtra from Class 1? The three-language formula must remain restricted to administrative use only — not be imposed in education,” he said.
Thackeray strongly opposed the inclusion of Hindi as a third language in primary classes under the new National Education Policy, stating that the MNS will not allow such enforcement. “If the government tries to coat Maharashtra with the paint of Hindi-isation, it will lead to conflict. This is not about language alone — it’s about identity, respect, and cultural autonomy,” he said.
He pointed out that India’s states were formed on the basis of linguistic identity, and any forced imposition of another state’s language is an insult to that principle. “Every language is beautiful, with its own rich history and tradition. In any state, the local language must be respected and upheld. Just as Marathi people living in other states must respect that state’s language, people from other states living in Maharashtra must respect Marathi,” Thackeray insisted.
Declaring, “We are Hindus but not Hindi,” Raj Thackeray alleged that the government was deliberately creating conflict to polarize voters ahead of upcoming elections — turning it into a ‘Marathi vs Non-Marathi’ issue for political gain.
He further questioned why such language imposition is attempted only in Maharashtra and not in South Indian states. “Try this in Tamil Nadu or Karnataka, and their governments will rise in protest. But here in Maharashtra, the ruling coalition remains silent, which is why such directives are being imposed. But we will not remain silent,” he warned.
Thackeray also criticized the state government’s failure on various fronts, citing the poor economic situation, rising unemployment among Marathi youth, unfulfilled promises of farm loan waivers, and declining industry interest in the state. “When there’s nothing concrete to show, governments resort to divide and rule — just like the British did,” he remarked.
In a clear directive to schools, Thackeray warned that Hindi textbooks should not be sold in stores or distributed in schools. He appealed to all Marathi citizens, media personnel, and political parties to stand united in protest, stating, “This is not a time for debate — it is a time for firm resistance.”
He concluded with a warning: “Today it’s forced language. Tomorrow, there will be more diktats. It’s not the death that hurts — it’s the timing of it that shocks you.”