Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Gaikwad has lashed out at the Thackeray cousins for their opposition to Hindi and the now-scrapped three-language policy in Maharashtra schools, and cited Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj as being well-versed in 16 languages.
Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Gaikwad asked Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and MNS president Raj Thackeray whether the Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj was a “fool” in getting himself versed with multiple languages.
“Was Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj a fool to learn 16 languages? Tarabai and Jijabai knew multiple languages, including Hindi. Were they fools as well? We should all learn as many languages as we can,” Gaikwad said.
His remarks came after Raj and Uddhav Thackeray, for the first time in nearly two decades, shared the stage to mark their “success” in getting the Devendra Fadnavis-led government to withdraw two government resolutions (GRs) on the three-language policy under NEP 2020, and teaching of Hindi from Class 1 to 5 in English and Marathi medium schools.
At the event, Uddhav and Raj Thackeray vowed to oppose all attempts by the government to “impose” Hindi and “sideline” Marathi in the state.
Slamming the Thackeray cousins, Gaikwad accused them of indulging in language politics.
“Indulging in politics on the issue of language is wrong. We should even learn Urdu if we want to stop terrorism. I have said this several times,” the Buldhana MLA asserted.
Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, as per historians, was a highly educated monarch who displayed mastery over several languages, including Sanskrit, Marathi and Hindustani, and his works in these languages are considered as having very high scholastic merit.
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(with inputs from PTI)
