By A Staff Reporter
Raipur, July 1 — Union Minister Ramdas Athawale weighed in on the recent controversy surrounding the three-language formula in Maharashtra, voicing his support for Hindi as the national language but also backing the Maharashtra government’s decision to roll back mandatory Hindi instruction in Marathi-medium schools.
Speaking to the media in Raipur, Athawale acknowledged the linguistic sensitivities involved. “There was a controversy in Maharashtra regarding the three-language formula. Hindi has always been our national language, and we respect it. But some people argued that there is no need to teach any other language in Marathi schools,” he said.
The minister highlighted that sections of the Marathi-speaking population had strongly opposed the move to introduce compulsory Hindi instruction, viewing it as an imposition on regional language rights. However, he noted that the Devendra Fadnavis-led Maharashtra government preemptively cancelled the decision before any large-scale agitation could erupt. “The government acted wisely and cancelled the decision even before any protest took place,” Athawale added.
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