Archive picture of Harshwardhan Sapkal, the new chief of the Maharashtra Congress. |Picture source: Special arrangement
Maharashtra Congress Committee Chairman Harshwardhan Sapkal slammed the BJP government on Friday (18 April 2025) for conspiring to eliminate the unity of diversity and demanded the withdrawal of imposing Hindi as a mandatory language, calling it a “error”.
Sapkal called the government’s move as a hypocritical stance that empowered Hindi, saying: “On the one hand, some say that Marathi is going to grant classical linguistic status, while on the other hand, efforts are being made to be on par with language. Language is not just a medium of communication; it is a cultural expression; it is a cultural expression.”
He said: “How do students learn other subjects when they are burdened with three mandatory languages? Regional languages must be respected. Although other languages are also appreciated, the BJP’s intention is to eliminate regional culture and language.”
“The BJP promotes the agenda of Hinduism, Hinduism and Hindu Rashtra is unacceptable and Congress strongly opposes this kind of enforcement. Does the language implement a means of separatism rather than Hindu people? Mr. Sapkar said while speaking at Tilak Bhavan of Mumbai.
He refers to the cruel killing of Sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh in the Bed area, saying: “The world has witnessed this inhumane behavior. Groups such as the Akka Gang and the Hawk Gang are active in Beed, and the atrocities in the area are still unaffected.”
He also filed a case of a young female lawyer practicing in the conference court in Ambajogai. “She was ruthlessly beaten by Salpen Village and colleagues, who filed a formal complaint about noise pollution in the area. They used sticks and irons in the attack, which made her unconscious,” said Mr. Sapkar. He called the incident extremely cruel and shameful. He requested the case to be registered and the defendant was arrested immediately.
publishing – April 18, 2025 at 10:37 pm IST
