"We have punched Marathi haters, unity should remain as it is": Shiv Sena (UBT) Uddhav Thackeray on withdrawal of three-language policy
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], June 30 (ANI): Shiv Sena (UBT) Chief Uddhav Thackeray on Monday celebrated the withdrawal of the three-language policy in the state and stated that they had punched Marathi haters, and the unity in the state should remain as it is.
He further stated that a new committee led by Narendra Jadhav would report on the decision, further stating that the government had appointed financial experts for the decision in the education sector.
'We have punched Marathi haters; this unity should remain as it is. We appreciate the political parties which came together with us despite different stands. Temporarily, they (the Government) have cancelled the GR. If they hadn't cancelled, they would have seen the protest on 5th July. Many leaders from Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar's NCP are going to join us. A new committee led by Dr Narendra Jadhav will report on this. The government has appointed financial experts for the education sector's decision. We will stage a victory rally on 5th July,' Thackeray said, speaking to reporters here.
Meanwhile, party MP Sanjay Raut lashed out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for making false claims of former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray accepting the Mashelkar committee's report on the three-language policy.
Addressing the media, Raut stated that lying was the BJP's 'national policy.', further challenging the BJP that if Thackeray had submitted the Mashelkar committee report, it should have been made public.
'Lying is the BJP's national policy. These people are working with this policy in Maharashtra. If Uddhav Thackeray had submitted a report on the Mashelkar committee, it should be made public. A committee report has been released and placed in the cabinet. Can't this be discussed? You forcefully discussed Hindi with the cabinet -- you did it because it's a national policy. If any national policy comes before the state, then discussing it is very important. Devendra Fadnavis has become the chief minister three times--does he not have that much knowledge?' Raut said, addressing a press conference.
Earlier, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, informing about the cancellation of the resolutions that were passed on April 16 and June 17, announced that a committee will be formed to discuss the implementation of the three-language formula in the state.
'A committee under Dr Narendra Jadhav will be formed to discuss the implementation of the three-language formula in the state... Until the committee submits its report, both government resolutions (of April 16 and June 17) have been cancelled by the government,' Devendra Fadnavis said.
On April 16, the Maharashtra government passed a resolution that mandated Hindi as the compulsory third language in Marathi and English-medium schools.
However, in response to the backlash, the government revised the policy on June 17 through an amended resolution, stating, 'Hindi will be the third language. For those who want to learn another language, at least 20 willing students are required.' (ANI)
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