Impose Hindi, Break Mumbai? Foiled! Thackeray Brothers’ Roar Puts BJP on the Backfoot!

National News: Uddhav and Raj Thackeray accuse the BJP of using the language policy as a tool to separate Mumbai from Maharashtra, calling it a political assault on Marathi identity. Appearing together on stage for the first time in two decades, Uddhav and Raj Thackeray launched a fierce offensive against the central government’s alleged attempt to "impose Hindi" in Maharashtra. But more than language, they claimed the true target was Mumbai itself — a long-term plan to detach the city from its Marathi roots.

The stage, while draped in cultural slogans, crackled with political urgency. The Thackerays alleged that the now-withdrawn policy to introduce Hindi as a third language in schools was just a cover for a deeper conspiracy. This wasn’t just a protest, they said it was a warning.

Plan to Detach Mumbai Revealed

Raj Thackeray directly accused the BJP of hatching a plan to use language policy as a cover to slowly push Mumbai away from Maharashtra. He called the three-language formula a political experiment. According to him, had the Hindi imposition worked, the next step would’ve been detachment. “They failed this time, but they will try again,” he warned. His tone was defiant, laced with regional pride.

Weakening Marathi for Control

Both leaders alleged that weakening Marathi is the first step in weakening resistance. “This is not about language. It’s about power,” Raj said. He claimed the BJP sees Mumbai as a national asset, not a cultural home. Controlling Mumbai, they argued, starts with diluting its linguistic and emotional identity. Their claim: Maharashtra was being slowly unstitched.

Policy Not Mandated by NEP

The speakers reminded the audience that the National Education Policy never mandated Hindi. “Southern states resisted it. Why test it only in Maharashtra?” Raj asked. He claimed that Maharashtra was chosen because it’s seen as “soft enough” to experiment on. He questioned the urgency behind this language push and its selective enforcement.

Economic Irony of Hindi Belt

Raj took a sharp jab at the economic conditions of Hindi-speaking states. “Ironically, the states that speak Hindi are economically behind. Why push their model here?” he asked. He clarified he isn’t anti-Hindi but opposes coercion. The remark drew both applause and attention online. Addressing critics who accused their families of sending children to English-medium schools, Raj defended the decision by citing Balasaheb’s legacy. “He studied in English too. Did that lessen his love for Marathi?” he asked. He argued that language pride is not in schools but in sentiment.

Fight for Thought, Not Just Votes

Uddhav echoed Raj’s message and framed the alliance as ideological. “This isn’t just a political comeback. It’s a movement for language and self-respect,” he said. Taking a jibe at CM Shinde, he said, “He calls himself Pushpa, says ‘won’t bend’ — but he already has. Now, he won’t even rise.”