‘English-Medium? So What?’: Raj Thackeray Cites Balasaheb, Fadnavis In Rebuttal To BJP

Last Updated:July 05, 2025, 18:43 IST

In response to BJP's "English-medium" charge against Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray, Raj Thackeray said the former never compromised on the status of Marathi.

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray along with Shiv Sena (UBT) Chief Uddhav Thackeray. (PTI)

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Saturday hit out at the BJP-led Central government over the alleged “imposition of Hindi" in Maharashtra and asserted that the policy of Hindutva “is not based on any language."

While addressing a joint rally of MNS and Shiv Sena (UBT) along with his cousin, Uddhav Thackeray, Raj Thackeray emphasised that there was no link between Marathi pride and an English-medium education.

Citing that he often gets arguments linking the two things, Raj Thackeray said, “They say that our children have learnt in English medium schools. So what? Dada Bhuse studied in Marathi schools and became a minister. Devendra Fadnavis studied in an English-medium school and became the Maharashtra CM. So what?"

In response to BJP’s “English-medium" charge against Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray, Raj Thackeray said the former never compromised on the status of Marathi.

“We studied in Marathi medium. Our children studied in English. They say we love English, how can we like Marathi? Balasaheb Thackeray and my father Shrikant Thackeray studied in English medium.  Can you doubt them?" he told the gathering.

Raj Thackeray also said that many politicians and film stars in South India studied in English schools but are proud of Tamil and Telugu languages.

He further sought to know Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stalwart Lal Krishna Advani’s education at a missionary school raised any doubts on his Hindutva.

“LK Advani studied at St. Patricks High School, a missionary school. Should we doubt his Hindutva?" he added.

He also said that everyone in Maharashtra must know how to speak Marathi, but said there was no need to beat anyone up if they don’t.

“Be it a Gujarati or anyone else here, must know Marathi, but there is no need to beat people for that if they don’t speak Marathi. Yet, if someone does some drama, you must hit them below their eardrums."

He followed up with advice, “If you beat someone, don’t make a video of the incident. Let the person beaten up tell that he has been beaten up; you don’t need to tell everyone."

Uddhav Thackeray and Raj shared the public stage and hosted a victory gathering, titled ‘Awaj Marathicha’, to celebrate the rollback of two GRs issued earlier by the government introducing Hindi as a third language from class 1 in state schools.

The Sena (UBT) chief also said, “We won’t let the government impose Hindi on us".

The language row came when the Maharashtra government issued an order in April to make Hindi as the compulsory third language for students in their primary classes. It was met with large opposition and political pressure, which led to a withdrawal recently.

News politics ‘English-Medium? So What?’: Raj Thackeray Cites Balasaheb, Fadnavis In Rebuttal To BJP