Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Jun 30: In a sharp political rejoinder during the Monsoon Session of the Maharashtra legislature, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray declared that Hindi cannot be imposed on the people of Maharashtra, crediting the unified resistance of the Marathi-speaking population for forcing the state government to retract its controversial resolutions. These resolutions had sought to introduce Hindi as a compulsory language alongside Marathi and English for students from Classes 1 to 5.
Speaking to the media on Monday, Thackeray announced that the now-cancelled July 5 protest march would be transformed into a celebration of victory. He emphasized that this triumph was not just about language, but about a broader show of strength and unity among Marathi-speaking citizens and political parties. “We crushed the traitors yesterday,” he said, warning that only continued solidarity could prevent a resurgence of divisive politics. “This is not just about stopping something—it’s about creating a vision of unity on July 5.”
Thackeray acknowledged the state government's decision to withdraw the resolutions, while taking a dig at its newly appointed committee, chaired by economist and former Planning Commission member Narendra Jadhav. “This is an education issue, and they’ve appointed an economist,” he remarked, underscoring that no committee could now reintroduce compulsion. “Even if they form one, Hindi cannot be forced on us anymore—the power of the Marathi Manoos has made that clear.”
He went on to thank every political party and individual who had stood with the movement, noting that people rose above party lines to defend the Marathi language. “Once again, the slogan of ‘Jai Maharashtra’ has been raised across every corner of the state,” he said, adding that many Marathi-speaking BJP and Shinde faction members had also shown signs of joining the cancelled protest.
Reflecting on the government’s quick retreat, Thackeray called it a result of collective pressure and accused the BJP of trying to stir a Marathi vs Non-Marathi divide to consolidate non-Marathi votes. He argued that the public’s resistance wasn’t anti-Hindi, but anti-coercion. “The BJP miscalculated. The people of Maharashtra showed maturity. They knew the difference between respecting a language and having it shoved down their throats.”
As he looks ahead to the July 5 victory rally, Thackeray positioned the episode as a reminder of what can be achieved through unity and grassroots mobilisation, sending a clear message that any future attempts at cultural imposition would be met with the same unwavering opposition.