English हिन्दी
Connect with us

India News

Maharashtra rolls back three-language policy resolutions amid Hindi imposition row

Maharashtra withdraws its earlier resolutions mandating Hindi as the third language in schools, following state-wide protests and political criticism. A committee will now decide the future course.

Published

on

Devendra Fadnavis

In a significant move, the Maharashtra government has withdrawn two controversial government resolutions (GRs) regarding the three-language policy in schools, following mounting opposition and accusations of Hindi imposition. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced that a new committee, headed by educationist Dr Narendra Jadhav, will be formed to assess the framework and timeline for the policy’s implementation.

The decision was taken after a cabinet meeting ahead of the monsoon session of the Maharashtra Assembly. CM Fadnavis confirmed that the GRs issued on April 16 and June 17 have been revoked, and a final decision on the language policy will only be made after the committee submits its report.

What the cancelled resolutions stated

The GR dated April 16 had made Hindi a compulsory third language for students of Classes 1 to 5 in English and Marathi medium schools. However, following backlash, the June 17 GR slightly softened the directive by stating that Hindi would “generally” be the third language, but not mandatory. Despite the revision, critics from various political quarters argued that both resolutions marked an attempt to force Hindi on non-Hindi-speaking students, thereby sparking the ‘Hindi imposition’ debate.

Political backlash forces rethink

The Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi—comprising Shiv Sena (UBT), Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), and NCP (SP)—strongly criticised the move, alleging it undermined the prominence of Marathi and regional linguistic identities. Protests erupted across the state, led primarily by Shiv Sena (UBT), where demonstrators burned copies of the June 17 GR.

In response, Mr Fadnavis reiterated the government’s commitment to promoting Marathi while defending the broader intent behind the three-language policy. He also targeted political rivals, accusing Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray of double standards. “Uddhav accepted the Mashelkar Committee’s recommendations on the same policy as Chief Minister. Why oppose it now?” said Fadnavis, who also took aim at MNS chief Raj Thackeray for joining the protest without prior involvement in the policy debate.

He further invoked B.R. Ambedkar, stating that the social reformer had encouraged learning Hindi alongside other languages.

Committee gets three months for recommendations

The newly formed committee under Dr Narendra Jadhav will explore key issues such as the appropriate class level to begin language instruction, methods of implementation, and the linguistic options to be made available to students. The panel has been granted a three-month period to submit its recommendations, during which the cancelled resolutions will remain inactive.

The controversy had united the estranged Thackeray cousins, Uddhav and Raj, who were scheduled to lead a joint protest on July 5, which now stands cancelled following the government’s latest decision.

India News

Vijay’s TVK emerges single largest party but will he be CM? AIADMK has the answer

Early trends in Tamil Nadu election results 2026 show Vijay’s TVK gaining ground, triggering speculation over possible alliances with AIADMK.

Published

on

Actor vijay

Actor Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) put up a stellar show knocking all expectations to the wayside by leading in over 100 seats. Early trends in the Tamil Nadu Assembly election results 2026 have sparked political speculation about possible post-result alliances.

As counting progresses across the 234 constituencies, TVK’s strong debut performance has placed it among the top players in the state’s political landscape. The party, formed just a few years ago, appears to be challenging the long-standing dominance of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK).

The early trends indicate a competitive, multi-cornered contest, with TVK either leading or closely trailing the established parties in several seats. This has led to growing discussions about whether a post-poll alignment could emerge, particularly involving AIADMK, depending on the final numbers.

The expectation that Vijay would only make a dent and not trigger a seismic shift as held by many observers looked to have come a cropper. The state’s Gen Z population seems to have convinced their families to vote for the star’s party against the ruling MK Stalin-led DMK. Despite fighting his first election, the challenge posed by Vijay has found many takers given that his party led in most of the 26 seats that make up the Chennai region, a DMK stronghold.

Despite all talk of various combinations making the rounds, TVK has consistently dismissed speculation about any alliance with AIADMK, maintaining its independent political stance.

The evolving trends suggest that even without a clear majority, TVK could play a crucial role in government formation if the results produce a fractured mandate. Observers note that the party’s performance reflects a shift in voter sentiment and the possible emergence of a third force in Tamil Nadu politics. The state has consistently voted in rival formations barring once when the AIADMK won the elections consecutively.

With counting still underway, the final outcome will determine whether alliance talks gain momentum or if a single party secures enough seats to form the government independently.

Continue Reading

India News

BJP crosses majority mark in early trends in West Bengal as counting continues

BJP crosses the majority mark in early trends in West Bengal as counting continues in the 2026 assembly elections.

Published

on

BJP

Early trends from the counting of votes for the 2026 West Bengal assembly elections indicate that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has crossed the majority mark in initial leads, signalling a strong performance in the state.

As counting progressed across constituencies, BJP surged past the halfway mark in early trends, putting it ahead in the high-stakes contest. However, the situation remains dynamic as multiple rounds of counting are still underway.

West Bengal is witnessing a closely fought battle, with the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) showing resistance in several seats even as BJP maintains its early advantage. The final outcome will depend on how trends evolve as more votes are counted.

Counting began at 8 am under tight security, with postal ballots taken up first, followed by Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) rounds. Officials have cautioned that early leads may fluctuate as counting advances.

The West Bengal election is among the most closely watched contests, with significant political implications. Final results are expected later in the day as counting continues.

Continue Reading

India News

Actor Vijay ahead in Perambur, trails in Trichy East as early Tamil Nadu trends emerge

Early counting trends in Tamil Nadu show TVK chief Vijay leading in Perambur while trailing in Tiruchirappalli East.

Published

on

Actor vijay

Early trends from the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly election counting day show a mixed start for actor-turned-politician Vijay, who is contesting from two constituencies — Perambur and Tiruchirappalli East.

Initial rounds of counting indicate that Vijay has taken a lead in the Perambur seat, a key urban constituency in north Chennai. However, he is trailing in Tiruchirappalli East, reflecting a split trend in his electoral debut.

Perambur has traditionally been seen as a politically significant constituency with a strong working-class and lower-middle-class voter base, making it a crucial battleground in the state’s political landscape.

The counting of votes began at 8 am across all 234 assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu, with the contest witnessing a three-cornered fight between the ruling DMK, the AIADMK alliance, and Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).

Vijay’s performance in these two seats is being closely watched, as it is seen as a key indicator of how the newly formed TVK is faring in its first major electoral test. His decision to contest from both Perambur and Tiruchirappalli East had already made these constituencies high-profile contests in the state.

As counting progresses, clearer trends are expected to emerge, which will determine whether Vijay can convert early leads into decisive victories or face setbacks in crucial constituencies.

Continue Reading

Trending

© Copyright 2022 APNLIVE.com