The Government of Maharashtra had Passed Resolutions (GR) on 16th April, 2025 and 17th June, 2025, mandating Hindi as the third compulsory language in Marathi and English Medium Primary schools. These Resolutions were withdrawn by the Government on 29th June, 2025 by the impact of state wide protests and intense backlash. It has been decided to form a committee to review the language policy and suggest further steps to move forward. However, the controversial three – language policy stands scrapped at present. The decision is being hailed by the opposition parties as a victory for Marathi people. It is noteworthy that Dr.K. Veeramani, the President of the Dravidar Kazhagam (DK), was the first stalwart to raise voice of protest against the New Education Policy (NEP) of the BJP headed Union Government, that stresses the three language policy at primary school education; practically it will favour only Hindi as the third language.
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The National Congress Party (NCP) which is a part of the ruling coalition Government in Maharashtra had also protested against the three language policy. Besides, many academicians, educationists, social activists and political leaders have also been insisting on revocation of the policy. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has announced that the panel formed to decide the future of the language policy is expected to submit its report within three months.
According to the statement released recently by Dr.K.Veeramani, the President of the Dravidar Kazhagam, the seeds of protest against Hindi imposition were sown in 1938 itself by Thanthai Periyar. It has yielded today the fruit of success in Maharashtra. “The hidden agenda of the BJP, backed by the RSS would never ever be accomplished,” said Dr.K.Veeramani.
Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray has commented that “the heads of Marathi haters have been smashed.” He has urged upon all the like – minded people all over the country to preserve this solidarity and be prepared for future battles. Sharad Pawar’s Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) has also celebrated this victory, expressing solidarity,
The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Jayant Patil told the press reporters that the withdrawal of its own decision shows how indifferent the Government of Maharashtra has been to the concerns of the public. Raj Thackeray, the Chief of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has remarked that Marathi has a history of over 3000 years and that Hindi is just 150 to 200 year old. He has firmly said that Hindi is not the national language to be imposed on other States. Raj Thackeray condemned the coercion by the BJP headed Union Government.
“The Chief of the Shiv Sena, Uddhav Thackeray and his brother Raj Thackeray of Nav Nirman Sena were like two opposite poles but the protest against Hindi has brought them together on the same wave-length” says Dr.K.Veeramani. He further says – “Many people used to sarcastically say, only Tamil Nadu protests against Hindi.’ The twist in the tale of Maharashtra has proved that we are not lone fighters.”
Opposition parties in Maharashtra burnt the copies of the Government orders all over the State on Sunday, 29th June, 2025. Within a few hours it was announced by the ruling Government that both the Resolutions were withdrawn. Dr.K.Veeramani hailed through his significant statement that the attempt of the BJP to saffronise the world of education, has been defeated. Laxmikant Deshmukh, the Chief of the Language Consultation Committee of the Government, has commented that there is no need of a committee to review the language policy. The matter is closed, according to him, once the decision has been scrapped.
