Hindi Row: Congress Slams Thackeray Cousins for Taking Credit, Dismisses Reunion Speculation
The political fault lines in Maharashtra have deepened once again as the Congress party sharply criticized both Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray over their attempts to claim credit for the Centre’s rollback of a controversial Hindi language policy. The backlash comes amid growing public dissent against language imposition in non-Hindi-speaking states.
While the central government rolled back parts of its Hindi-first policy after massive protests, the two Thackeray cousins—Uddhav of Shiv Sena (UBT) and Raj of MNS—both hailed it as a victory, attributing it to their respective pressure campaigns.
Congress Reacts Sharply
In a strongly worded statement, Congress leaders accused the Thackeray cousins of:
Exploiting the public sentiment for political mileage
Competing for attention instead of presenting a united front
Hijacking credit from broader opposition efforts, civil society, and linguistic rights groups
A senior Maharashtra Congress leader said:
“This is not the time for self-promotion. It was a collective movement led by multiple voices, not just two family names.”
Congress Questions Possibility of Thackeray Reunion
The incident has also cast fresh doubt on any political reunion between Uddhav and Raj Thackeray, a topic often speculated upon, especially with the 2024 Lok Sabha elections behind and Maharashtra Assembly polls ahead.
While some opposition leaders hoped for a consolidated Marathi leadership to take on the BJP, the competitive narrative between the two cousins suggests otherwise.
Congress sources confirmed:
There are no ongoing talks for a joint strategy between Uddhav and Raj
Distrust and rivalry remain deeply embedded
The Congress prefers working with stable alliances, like the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA)
Background of the Hindi Policy Row
The central government's directive to prioritize Hindi in official communication and education systems, especially in non-Hindi-speaking states, faced intense backlash in states like Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra, and West Bengal.
Protests erupted, with parties across the spectrum opposing what they saw as linguistic imposition and an erosion of federal values.
The Centre later clarified and scaled back several aspects of the policy — a move that was spun as a "win" by several regional leaders, including the Thackeray cousins.
FAQs: Thackeray Cousins, Congress & the Hindi Policy Row
Q1: What was the Hindi policy that triggered protests?
The Centre's proposal to give Hindi a more dominant role in education and official communication, especially in non-Hindi-speaking states, led to fears of cultural and linguistic marginalization.
Q2: What roles did Uddhav and Raj Thackeray play in the protests?
Both claimed to have pressured the Centre into revising the policy, though critics argue it was a combined effort across political and civil society lines.
Q3: Why is Congress upset with them?
Congress believes the Thackeray cousins are undermining the joint effort by monopolizing credit, turning a people’s movement into a personal PR campaign.
Q4: Is a reunion between Uddhav and Raj Thackeray likely?
Highly unlikely, according to Congress insiders and political observers. Deep-rooted rivalry and conflicting political paths continue to separate them.
Q5: What is Congress’s next move in Maharashtra?
Congress plans to continue strengthening the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance while advocating for cultural diversity and regional identity.
published : On 5th July
Published : Pankaj
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