With the BJP-led Maharashtra government refusing to reconsider its decision to make Hindi a compulsory subject in schools, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has now called upon the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to step in and help revoke the mandate.
In a letter addressed to RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, MNS leader Sandeep Deshpande expressed concern over the government`s move to enforce Hindi as a compulsory language under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Deshpande warned that such a decision could face strong resistance in states with distinct regional identities and, instead of uniting Hindus, might lead to further divisions. Mid-Day has accessed a copy of the letter, dated April 19.
“Rather than fostering Hindu unity, this decision will create a rift within the broader Hindu community,” Deshpande stated in the letter. He urged the RSS, as an ideological organisation, to intervene in the matter to prevent potential discord. “The RSS should take steps to ensure that this rule enforcing Hindi as a mandatory language is withdrawn,” he added.
The Raj Thackeray-led MNS, along with the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), has been vocal in its opposition to the state government’s language policy. Both parties have criticised the move to impose Hindi on students from Std 1 to 5 under the new education framework.
According to a recent Government Resolution (GR), the current two-language format in schools will be replaced by a three-language system as per NEP 2020. Under this new structure, Hindi will become a compulsory subject alongside English and Marathi.
