Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut has lashed out at the BJP over its claims that former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray had accepted the Mashelkar Committee report on the controversial three-language policy.
Responding sharply to the BJP’s accusations, Raut said, “Lying is the BJP's national policy. These people are working with this policy in Maharashtra. If Uddhav Thackeray had actually submitted a report on the Mashelkar committee, it should be made public.”
Defending Thackeray’s position, Raut questioned the BJP’s selective outrage. “A committee report has been released and placed in the cabinet. Can't this be discussed? You forcefully discussed Hindi with the cabinet — you did it because it's a national policy,” he argued.
He stressed that the discussion of any national policy at the state level was crucial. “If any national policy comes before the state, then discussing it is very important,” Raut added, accusing the BJP of trying to create confusion and mislead people on the issue.
In a pointed remark aimed at Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Raut said, “Devendra Fadnavis has become the chief minister three times — does he not have that much knowledge?”
The Mashelkar Committee, set up to recommend reforms in language education policy, had become a flashpoint after the state government introduced its controversial three-language policy mandating Hindi in primary education. Opposition parties and pro-Marathi organisations had slammed the move as a blow to Marathi linguistic identity.
