Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant on Thursday voiced strong opposition to the Maharashtra government's recent directive mandating Hindi as the third language in schools across the state. Sawant asserted that any form of linguistic imposition would not be accepted, reiterating the party's stand on prioritizing regional and mother tongues in education.

Speaking to reporters, Sawant said, "Even Uddhav Thackeray has clearly stated his stance on this matter. We do not accept any strictness or force regarding the Hindi language." He further added that language learning should be a matter of choice, not compulsion, and emphasized the importance of studying in one's native language. “We have also studied, and I myself studied in my mother tongue,” he remarked.

The Maharashtra government's order has drawn mixed reactions, with several political parties and educational bodies raising concerns over cultural and linguistic autonomy.