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Stalin welcomed the victory rally of Raj and Uddhav Thackeray in Mumbai, saying the BJP was forced to back down from its ‘lawless’ Hindi imposition due to fear of an uprising.
Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin (PTI Image)
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin welcomed the reunion of Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena’s (MNS) Raj Thackeray after 20 years in Maharashtra, accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of forcing Hindi on other states.
Uddhav and Raj Thackeray shared the stage for the first time in two decades at the Awaj Marathicha rally in Mumbai, declaring their ambitions to “capture power” in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections and in Maharashtra. The two leaders said the differences between them had been erased and reaffirmed their opposition to the Hindi language imposition.
The Maharashtra education department had earlier announced that Hindi would be made a compulsory third language for students from Classes 1 to 5 in both Marathi and English medium schools, but the policy was rolled back after strong backlash.
‘Storm Of Protest’
Taking to X, Stalin drew parallels with Tamil Nadu’s own opposition to the three-language formula, said the BJP’s imposition of the Hindi language had transcended state boundaries and had ignited a “storm of protest” in Maharashtra.
“The BJP, which acts lawlessly and anarchically by stating that funds will be allocated only if Hindi is taught as a third language in Tamil Nadu schools, has been forced to back down for the second time in Maharashtra, where they govern, due to fear of the people’s uprising,” he said.
Notably, Stalin had fiercely opposed the “imposition of Hindi” as a compulsory language in the three-language formula proposed by the Centre, calling it “Hindi colonialism” and saying it was pressuring non-Hindi-speaking states.
இந்தித் திணிப்பை முறியடிக்க திராவிட முன்னேற்றக் கழகமும், தமிழ்நாட்டு மக்களும் தலைமுறை தலைமுறையாக நடத்திவரும் மொழி உரிமைப் போர், மாநில எல்லைகளைக் கடந்து இப்போது மராட்டியத்தில் போராட்டச் சூறாவளியாகச் சுழன்றடித்துக் கொண்டிருக்கிறது.தமிழ்நாட்டுப் பள்ளிகளில் மூன்றாவது மொழியாக…
— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) July 5, 2025
The Chief Minister lauded the enthusiasm and powerful oratory of the victory rally held by Uddhav and Raj Thackeray in Mumbai, saying their stand against Hindi imposition “filled us with immense excitement”.
‘Will Teach BJP A Lesson’
Stalin said the Centre had no response to Raj Thackeray’s questions on what the third language would be in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, and why Hindi was being imposed on non-Hindi-speaking states, while Hindi-speaking states are lagging behind economically.
“Will the Union government change its vindictive stance of releasing Rs.2,152 crore in funds under the integrated education scheme (Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan) only if Tamil Nadu accepts the new education policy that imposes Hindi and Sanskrit under the guise of the three-language policy? Will it immediately release the funds legally owed for the education of Tamil Nadu’s schoolchildren?”
Stalin said Tamil Nadu’s struggle against Hindi dominance was emotional, intellectual and driven by the protection of India’s pluralistic culture. He strongly opposed some “naïve” statements like learning Hindi will help in getting jobs, saying the uprising in Maharashtra will “open their eyes to wisdom”.
“The BJP must atone for the betrayal it has committed against Tamil and Tamil Nadu. If not, Tamil Nadu will once again teach the BJP and its new allies a lesson they will never forget! Come, let us unite!” he added.
Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master’s in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international…Read More
Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master’s in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international… Read More
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