'Have Azan In Marathi': Nitesh Rane Questions Silence Of Javed Akhtar, Aamir Khan, Rahul Gandhi Amid Hindi Row
Maharashtra Minister Rane criticised Bollywood figures Javed Akhtar and Aamir Khan and opposition leader Rahul Gandhi for silence amid the Hindi 'imposition' row, alleging a plot to 'divide' Hindus.
Amid a heated language row in Maharashtra over the state government’s order mandating Hindi as the third language in primary schools, Maharashtra Minister Nitesh Rane lashed out at Hindi film celebrities and opposition leaders for their silence on the issue.
According to news ANI, Rane questioned the commitment of prominent figures to the Marathi language, saying, “Why isn’t Hindi imposition any concern for Javed Akhtar, Aamir Khan and Rahul Gandhi? Just try to get them to speak in Marathi. Tell them to try taking out their protest from Mohammed Ali Road or Behrampada. If they truly love Marathi, then have tomorrow’s Azan recited in Marathi. Then we will believe that they have respect for the Marathi language. We have shouted so loudly that Hindi is not compulsory in Maharashtra, now should we roam around with it written on our chests? These people only want to divide Hindus on the issue of language.”
Pune, Maharashtra | On Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray to take out a protest march against the Maharashtra government mandating Hindi as the default third language in schools, Maharashtra Minister Nitesh Rane says, "Why isn't Hindi imposition any concern for Javed Akhtar,… pic.twitter.com/S49Vrmcsh7
— ANI (@ANI) June 29, 2025
“No language is being made compulsory. Students can opt for Sanskrit as the third language if they wish,” he said, countering Opposition claims, news agency PTI reported.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS have announced a joint march on 5 July opposing what they call the imposition of Hindi in Maharashtra’s schools.
When queried about Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s proposal to introduce Hindi from class 5, Rane said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis would discuss the matter with Pawar.
Taking a veiled dig at Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray, Rane questioned, “If you studied at Bombay Scottish, why did you not choose Sanskrit? Why Spanish or French?”
Uddhav Thackeray Rejects Hindi Mandate
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray made it clear that his party would not accept the government resolution enforcing Hindi in early schooling. According to news agency IANS, Thackeray stated, “We do not accept this GR. We are not against the Hindi language, but we will not allow the forceful imposition of Hindi to be implemented.” He plans to lead a protest march against the directive.
Advisory Committee Opposes Early Introduction of Hindi
PTI reported that the state’s government-appointed Language Advisory Committee passed a resolution in Pune urging Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to withdraw the decision. The committee recommended that no third language, including Hindi, should be taught before Class 5, arguing it would hinder children’s foundational skills.
“We are not against Hindi or any other language, but imposing it in early schooling is neither educationally sound nor culturally appropriate. Language learning in the early years must focus on the mother tongue for strong foundational skills,” said the committee’s chairman, Laxmikant Deshmukh, as quoted by PTI.
He added, “The government attempted to bypass this by presenting misleading interpretations. We want the government resolution on this matter to be cancelled outright.”
Senior Marathi writer Shripad Bhalchandra Joshi and language expert Prakash Parab highlighted the potential harm of introducing a third language too early, citing past issues when English and Marathi were made compulsory in each other’s mediums. Joshi said, “English was introduced as a compulsory subject for primary classes in Marathi-medium schools in 1999. It is worth noting that Marathi was made compulsory in English-medium schools seven years later, and as a result, children could not learn either language properly. Now, by adding Hindi or any other third language early on, children’s linguistic abilities will only weaken.”
The committee’s resolution called for the introduction of a third language only after Class 5, and even then, it should remain optional. The advisory panel also resolved to join the Shiv Sena (UBT) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) protest planned for 5 July.
The committee, which advises the state on Marathi language preservation, expressed concern that the new policy could undermine Maharashtra’s cultural identity and weaken students’ language proficiency.
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