Top News

New Delhi: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and Marathi groups staged a protest against Hindi-language examinations for gazetted and non-gazetted officers and employees. In response, the Maharashtra government said it would review whether such exams are necessary or not.

Marathi Language Minister Uday Samant confirmed that the Hindi-language examinations have been put on hold, and if found, there is no need for such examinations, then they will never be conducted again.

The Marathi-language activists raised the question of the need for Hindi, where Marathi is the official language. The development comes after the Maharashtra government declared that auto-rickshaw drivers should know Marathi.

MNS leader Sandeep Deshpande accused the government of attempting to impose Hindi through the back door in the state. He also added that Marathi should be respected in Maharashtra and the language should be spoken in the state. Adding to that, why should officers be forced to give the Hindi examination?

Deshpande also opened up that the government is just trying to please leaders sitting in Delhi. He issued a stern warning that if the government tried to make the Hindi exam compulsory, then the MNS would strongly oppose the examination.

“If the government forcibly conducts this examination, then whatever happens at the examination centres on June 28, the state government will be responsible for it,” he said.

Marathi Abhyas Kendra’s president, Dr. Deepak Pawar, also questioned why employees have to give the Hindi exam every year if government employees work and communicate in Marathi, and it is the official language of the state.

The MNS also campaigned to use more Marathi in government offices, educational institutions, businesses, and transport. Language has remained a sensitive issue in Maharashtra for the past few years.