Maharashtra Chief Minister’s wife Amruta Fadnavis stated something that could provide fresh ammunition to the opposition. Amruta Fadnavis on Wednesday said that Hindi should be taught in schools, as it helps connect with people across the country.
Amruta Fadnavis. Pic/File Pic
Amid the ongoing language row in Maharashtra, the Maharashtra Chief Minister’s wife Amruta Fadnavis stated something that could provide fresh ammunition to the opposition. Amruta Fadnavis on Wednesday said that Hindi should be taught in schools, as it helps connect with people across the country.
Amruta Fadnavis’s statement came three days after the BJP-led government withdrew a government resolution (GR) that introduced Hindi as a third language from Classes 1 to 5.
Amruta Fadnavis, while speaking to the media, asserted that "Marathi is number one (language) for Maharashtra, no doubt about it. To communicate at the global level, English is useful. But for connecting with people across the country, from North to South and East to West, I personally feel Hindi could be included in the curriculum."
While highlighting the inclusion of Hindi in the curriculum, she further said that "students should have the freedom to choose from available language options," she said, adding, "It will help in promoting inclusivity." Students should get options to learn (languages), and they can choose."
The Maharashtra government under the leadership of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had initially announced in April that Hindi would be introduced as a third language from Class 1, triggering criticism from opposition parties who accused the BJP of trying to 'impose' Hindi at the cost of Marathi.
However, the government then said it was putting the decision on hold, but a fresh GR clarified that Hindi could still be taught as an optional third language, according to PTI.
The move from the ruling government in Maharashtra drew even stronger backlash, and opposition parties and groups such as the Marathi Abhyas Kendra mounted pressure on the government, forcing it to withdraw the two GRs and announce the formation of a committee to review the policy.
While the language row became a political matter in the last few months, opposition parties started to collaborate with each other in order to counter the current formula and language policies initiated by the Fadnavis-led Mahayuti government.
Recently, hinting at a potential alliance with Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray stated he would act according to the wishes of the people. Earlier, Uddhav Thackeray also took a swipe at the Mahayuti alliance, alleging that the BJP and Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena don’t want Marathi parties to come together.
(With PTI Inputs)
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
