BJP Slams Uddhav Thackeray Over ‘Hypocrisy’ on Hindi Policy, Calls Protest a Political Gimmick

Mumbai: BJP spokesperson Navnath Ban launched a scathing attack on the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) faction for protesting the implementation of the three-language formula, accusing them of hypocrisy and political theatrics.

In a sharply worded social media post, Ban questioned the basis of the protest being organised by the Uddhav camp against the perceived “imposition of Hindi.” He pointed out that it was Uddhav Thackeray himself, during his tenure as Chief Minister, who had approved the implementation of the three-language policy as recommended by the NEP (National Education Policy) Task Force in February 2022.

“The same Uddhav Thackeray had officially accepted the NEP Task Force report, which clearly stated that the three-language policy must be implemented from Class 1, and Hindi should be taught as the third language,” Ban wrote. “Why then is the UBT faction protesting a decision that their leader endorsed?”

Calling the protest a “drama” and a “deliberate attempt to mislead the people,” Ban accused the Uddhav camp of indulging in double standards. “This is not a protest, but a farce. When in power, they approved the three-language policy, and now outside government, they are crying foul over Hindi. This is typical UBT style,” he added.

Referring to Uddhav Thackeray’s shifting positions as political opportunism, Ban said, “How many more U-turns will Uddhavji take?”

The remarks come amid an intensifying political debate in Maharashtra over the role of Hindi in the state’s education system. The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) has accused the BJP-led government of pushing Hindi at the cost of Marathi, alleging cultural imposition. However, Ban’s tweet has sought to turn the spotlight back on Thackeray’s track record, placing him at the centre of the controversy.

The BJP has used this as an opportunity to highlight what it sees as the UBT faction’s inconsistency and lack of ideological clarity. With local body elections including Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections on the horizon, the battle over language is quickly turning into another flashpoint in Maharashtra’s high-stakes political theatre.