Marathi language is soul of Maharashtra, govt will never harm its status: NCP

Mumbai, Jun 23 (PTI) Amid a row over the "imposition" of the Hindi language in Maharashtra, the NCP on Monday said the government would never take a decision detrimental to the status of the Marathi language which it described as the "soul" of the state.

Addressing reporters, Nationalist Congress Party spokesperson Anand Paranjpe said the government was committed to upholding the importance of the Marathi language.

He said Marathi was recognised as a classical language by the Modi government.

"Marathi is the sole language and the soul of Maharashtra. Mahayuti government will never take any decision that harms its status," he said.

The NCP headed by Deputy CM Ajit Pawar is one of the constituents of the BJP-led Mahayuti.

The state government last week issued an amended order, stating Hindi will “generally” be taught as the third language to students in Marathi and English medium schools from classes 1 to 5.

The government maintained that Hindi would not be compulsory, however, it mandated consent of at least 20 students per grade in a school for studying any Indian language other than Hindi.

The opposition claimed the government is making Hindi the default third language and vowed to oppose its "imposition" in Maharashtra. PTI MR NSK