The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) staged a vehement protest in Pimpri-Chinchwad on April 18, 2025, against the state government’s decision to mandate Hindi as a compulsory third language in primary schools from Class 1 to 5. The protest, held near the Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar statue at Pimpri Chowk, saw MNS members tearing copies of the Government Resolution (GR) that enforces the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020’s three-language formula, calling it an attack on Marathi linguistic identity.
The Maharashtra government’s April 16 GR requires all schools, Marathi and English-medium to teach Hindi as a third language starting in the 2025–26 academic year. MNS leaders, including Pimpri-Chinchwad City President Sachin Chikhale, condemned the move as an unconstitutional imposition, arguing that it undermines the state’s federal autonomy. “If a third language is needed, it should be optional, not forced upon students,” Chikhale stated, warning of escalated statewide agitations if the decision is not revoked.
MNS chief Raj Thackeray amplified the backlash, accusing the government of “forcible Hindi-isation” to divert attention from unemployment and economic crises. In a social media post, Thackeray asserted, “Hindi is not the national language. We are Hindus, not Hindi. Conflict is inevitable if this imposition continues.” He questioned why similar mandates were not enforced in southern states and vowed to block Hindi textbook distribution in Maharashtra schools.
Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, however, defended the policy during the Chapekar Brothers memorial inauguration in Pimpri-Chinchwad, emphasizing that Marathi remains the state’s top priority. “Hindi is spoken across many states and aids national integration, but Marathi will always be our mother tongue,” Pawar said, dismissing opposition as politically motivated.
The protest highlights deepening tensions over language politics in Maharashtra, with the MNS framing the issue as a battle for regional identity. The party has threatened larger demonstrations, including school blockades, to pressure the government into reversing the GR.
