Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Jul 13: Senior Congress leader and former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Sunday called for linguistic respect and religious harmony, urging people to rise above divisive language politics. His remarks came during a visit to Mumbai amid a growing controversy over the imposition of Hindi in Maharashtra schools.

“Language should unite, not divide,” Gehlot told reporters. “Learning languages empowers people. There should be no barriers to acquiring knowledge—some even know five languages. That’s a strength, not a fault.”

Addressing the ongoing Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS)-led attacks on non-Marathi speakers and recent government flip-flops on mandatory Hindi instruction, Gehlot denounced such actions as "regressive and harmful."

Reflecting on changing times, Gehlot said, “When we were young, we too opposed English, but today English has become necessary. Just as we’ve adapted to that, we must also embrace linguistic diversity and mutual respect.”

The controversy was ignited after the Maharashtra government issued two resolutions mandating Hindi as a compulsory third language in Marathi and English-medium schools for Classes 1 to 5. After public outcry, including protests from the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and regional groups like MNS, the resolutions were withdrawn.

However, the Mahayuti coalition government clarified that the rollback is temporary, pending recommendations from an expert committee. This leaves the issue unresolved and tensions simmering.

The debate has exposed deeper anxieties in Maharashtra over linguistic identity and cultural imposition, especially in urban centres with large non-Marathi populations.

Gehlot’s statement adds to a growing chorus from national leaders warning against using language as a tool for political polarisation.