‘Thackeray Back Soon, Instead Of Imposing Marathi…’: MNS, Shiv Sena (UBT) Play The Poster Game

As the row over Hindi intensified, the MNS projected an aggressive stand on the language issue while the Shiv Sena (UBT) hinted at a big political change in Maharashtra

Amid a possibility of the estranged Thackeray cousins – Uddhav and Raj – forming an alliance ahead of the civic polls, posters put up by both parties on Hindi “imposition” and “big change” have raised the political temperatures.

As the row over Hindi intensified after the state government decided to adopt a three-language formula for classes 1 to 5, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) projected an aggressive stand while the Shiv Sena (UBT) hinted at a big political change.

According to a report by NDTV, MNS party workers are reaching out to school principals across the state and opposing Hindi while burning textbooks in the language as a symbolic protest. Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena faction has also strongly opposed Hindi and said its imposition will not be tolerated.

NDTV reported that both the parties have put up posters near Sena Bhavan in Mumbai, with the message of how Hindi is being imposed on Maharashtra and how the ruling alliance is a “Maharashtra-hating” regime.

Literary bodies to opposition parties, all have opposed the move even as Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said while Hindi was earlier made compulsory, an amended government resolution states that compulsion has been removed. “…Students can now opt for any Indian language as a third language,” he said.

“What is the government doing? Instead of imposing Marathi on outsiders in the state, Hindi is being imposed on Marathi people in the state,” read the MNS poster as reported by NDTV. 

In a letter to Fadnavis earlier, Raj Thackeray had earlier demanded the implementation of a two-language policy in the state.

“Soon, political equations in Maharashtra will change. Maharashtra will experience a big political change. Thackeray government will be back soon,” read the poster put up by Shiv Sena (UBT), as per NDTV. 

The parties further took to social media to express their opposition to the introduction of Hindi via the three-language policy under the National Education Policy (NEP).

“Today, the question of whether you will remain silent or get angry on questions about Marathi and Mumbai came to mind, and seeing the response, I was convinced that if Mumbaikars and Marathi people unite, we will together overcome every crisis, injustice, and oppression facing Mumbai!” said Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray in a social media post in a Marathi, while sharing a poster registering the party’s protest on the Hindi move.

He added: “The ‘Fight for our Mumbai’ has begun. We have been fighting for Mumbai’s issues and will continue to fight, I am sure we will get your strong support in this! Together, let us free our Mumbai and Marathi from the clutches of this Maharashtra-hating regime!”

In another post on their official X handle, the Shiv Sena (UBT) stated: “The plot of Maharashtra haters should be identified in time…”

WHAT IS THE MNS STAND ON HINDI?

Earlier, Raj issued a stern warning to the educational institutions in the state not to support the Fadnavis government’s plan to impose the language “spoken in some northern provinces”. He stressed that if the schools support the government’s “hidden agenda”, then the MNS will consider it a “betrayal” of Maharashtra.

In a letter written to all the principals of schools in Maharashtra, Raj said, “While we are raising this issue with you, we have also sent a similar letter to the government. We have firmly told the government that we need a written letter stating that the Hindi language or any third language in general will not be taught. They may or may not issue such a letter, but if your actions support the government’s hidden agenda, we will surely consider it a betrayal of Maharashtra…”

“Do keep in mind that there is growing discontent in Maharashtra regarding this imposition of languages! Word to the wise! What more can I say?” it added.

He referred to the recent developments in the education department and said the situation in Maharashtra has been “chaotic” since April. He has accused the state government of planning to impose Hindi in the state “discreetly” and urged the schools not to cooperate with this.

These posters not only display the parties’ opposition to Hindi but hint at a possible alliance between them. There has been much speculation recently about the two cousins coming together to contest the civic elections in Mumbai and elsewhere in the state.

WHAT IS SHIV SENA (UBT) SAYING?

Uddhav’s Shiv Sena has left numerous hints of a possible political alliance with the MNS. In fact, the former chief minister has also accused the BJP of scuttling the possibility of his party’s alliance with the MNS.

Addressing a rally to mark the 59th foundation day of the undivided Shiv Sena formed by his father late Bal Thackeray on June 19, he warned the ruling party of dire consequences if it hurt the “Thackeray brand”. He said in order to scuttle the possibility of alliance of “Marathi parties”, meetings are being held in hotels and elsewhere.

He was apparently referring to Raj Thackeray’s recent meeting with the Maharashtra CM at a five-star hotel in the city.

“What people want, will happen. We will see how it is to be done. The BJP and Shinde Sena do not want Marathi parties to unite. If you try to finish the Thackeray brand, we will finish off the BJP. I am prepared. I want to tell the BJP…..When you come to take me on….come with an ambulance…for yourself,” Thackeray said.

He, meanwhile, also said the imposition of Hindi in the state will not be allowed at any cost. “The BJP wants to create a divide among Marathi and Hindi-speakers on the eve of civic polls,” he said while exuding confidence that his party will retain the Mumbai civic body.

(With PTI inputs)

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