MVA Protests Rock Day 1 of Maharashtra Assembly Monsoon Session Over Hindi 'Imposition' Row

Mumbai, June 30 : The Monsoon Session of the Maharashtra Legislature began on a stormy note Monday, with leaders of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) staging a strong protest outside the Vidhan Bhavan. The opposition alliance, comprising Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress, and the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction), accused the ruling Mahayuti government of undermining Marathi identity through an alleged attempt to impose Hindi in schools.

Prominent leaders, including Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray, Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Ambadas Danve, senior Congress leader Sachin Ahir, and NCP (SP)’s Jitendra Awhad, led the demonstration. Protesters held aloft posters and shouted slogans defending Marathi pride and linguistic autonomy.

The controversy stems from two Government Resolutions (GRs) issued on April 16 and June 17, which proposed implementing a three-language formula — Marathi, English, and Hindi — as compulsory from Class 1. The move triggered strong backlash from various quarters, prompting the government to withdraw the GRs on Sunday. However, the rollback has failed to appease the opposition.

“The BJP has a national policy of lying,” said Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, rejecting Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s claim that the previous MVA government had endorsed recommendations of the Mashelkar Committee, which had advised the inclusion of Hindi. “If Uddhav Thackeray approved this report, let them show it. We are ready for a discussion.”

Amid mounting criticism, the government has now formed a new committee headed by Dr. Narendra Jadhav to re-evaluate the language policy. Yet the MVA remains unconvinced, insisting on full transparency and accountability.

The protest marks a broader political offensive by the opposition, which is expected to corner the ruling Mahayuti alliance on several fronts during the session — from the language controversy to ongoing farmers’ unrest, infrastructure failures, and unemployment.

Despite enjoying a legislative majority, the Mahayuti alliance — led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis along with deputies Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar — faces a turbulent session ahead, with the opposition signaling it will leave no issue unchallenged.