Congress’ Varsha Gaikwad Slams Push for Hindi, Accuses BJP of “Distorting Facts” on Marathi Language in Schools

Mumbai — Senior Congress leader and MP Varsha Gaikwad on Sunday came down hard on the BJP-led state administration, accusing it of running a misinformation drive to mask its alleged moves against the Marathi language and culture while forcing Hindi on Maharashtra’s students.

Gaikwad, who earlier served as the state’s school education minister, rejected allegations that the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition had signed off on making Hindi mandatory under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. “We have no objection to Hindi, but its imposition in Maharashtra is unacceptable,” she declared.

The political firestorm began after the government modified its earlier order, stating that Hindi would generally be taught as a third language in Marathi and English medium schools from Class 1 to Class 5. Parents may seek other Indian languages if 20 or more students per grade opt for them, in which case a teacher would be arranged or the language would be taught virtually.

Meanwhile, Uddhav Thackeray, leader of the Shiv Sena (UBT), called upon party members to publicly burn copies of the government resolution against compulsory Hindi education, coinciding with the opening of the state legislature’s monsoon session.

Maharashtra minister Uday Samant had previously argued that the policy to introduce Hindi from the first standard was approved when Uddhav Thackeray led the MVA government. Gaikwad countered these claims, asserting that the current administration was twisting facts to break public resistance. “This is a deliberate attempt to spread confusion and weaken the movement against their anti-Marathi agenda,” she said in a statement.

She explained that the Dr. Raghunath Mashelkar Committee — often cited to justify the policy — had been formed to study higher and technical education, not primary schools. “It is unfortunate that Uday Samant, who was once higher education minister, is adding to this misunderstanding,” she said.

Gaikwad further explained that while she headed the education ministry, expert groups were constituted under the Commissioner of Education to evaluate the NEP’s implications on schools, and a government order for this review was passed on June 24, 2022.

Rejecting the claim that the MVA administration ever adopted the three-language scheme for primary schooling, Gaikwad insisted, “This is completely false. The present government is hiding behind lies to dodge accountability for its own decisions.”

She highlighted that during the MVA’s tenure, Marathi had been made mandatory in all schools up to Class 8 regardless of board or management, backed by a June 2020 resolution and an implementation committee formed in September that year.

Gaikwad also lamented the stalled Marathi Bhavan cultural centre planned for Mumbai’s Charni Road, for which land had been earmarked by the school education department. “This government has even blocked that effort,” she claimed.

Accusing the current Mahayuti government of “bowing before Delhi” to secure funds under the PM-Shri scheme, Gaikwad said they had signed an unconditional agreement accepting the NEP in its entirety, ignoring warnings about its possible negative impact on Marathi-medium students.

She held both previous and current education ministers — including Deepak Kesarkar and Dada Bhuse — responsible, as well as chief ministers associated with the Mahayuti. “The Dr. Mashelkar Committee they cite was not appointed by the school education department, so their argument makes no sense,” Gaikwad insisted, adding, “This rumor is being spread only to cover up their own failings.”