The Maharashtra government on Sunday rolled back its earlier orders on implementing a three-language policy in schools, following strong objections from linguistic experts and stakeholders over the alleged imposition of Hindi in early education.

Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, speaking at a press briefing in Mumbai ahead of the Monsoon Session of the state legislature, announced that both government resolutions (GRs) pertaining to the three-language policy had been cancelled with immediate effect.

"In today’s Cabinet meeting, we have decided to set up a committee headed by Dr Narendra Jadhav to recommend how the three-language formula should be implemented. Until then, the policy will be on hold,” Fadnavis said.

He added that the committee will consult all stakeholders before submitting its report. “For us, Marathi remains the fulcrum of any language policy,” he stressed. The panel has sought three months to study the issue and prepare a report.

Fadnavis alleged Uddhav Thackeray had accepted the recommendations of the Dr Raghunath Mashelkar committee to introduce a three-language policy from class 1 to 12 when he was chief minister and set up a committee to implement the policy.

"The state cabinet has decided to withdraw the Government Resolutions (GR) issued in April and June regarding the implementation of the three-language policy from class one. A committee headed by Dr Narendra Jadhav will be formed to recommend implementation (of the three-language formula)," Fadnavis said.

He said the government will take a fresh decision based on the report of Dr Jadhav, a former member of the Planning Commission and ex-Vice Chancellor.

"The other names of the committee will be announced in some days. The panel will study the Mashelkar Committee's report and suggest from which standard (class 1 or otherwise) the three language formula will be implemented,'' he said.

The decision comes in the wake of protests from the Language Advisory Committee, an official body that advises on issues related to the Marathi language, which passed a resolution on Friday urging the state to defer the introduction of any third language, including Hindi, until Class 5.

The resolution was passed at a meeting in Pune, where 20 of 27 committee members were present, along with Kiran Kulkarni, secretary of the Marathi language department.

The controversy had erupted after the state issued a revised GR that proposed to "generally" introduce Hindi as a third language for students from Classes 1 to 5 in Marathi and English-medium schools.

The order allowed for exemptions if at least 20 students in a class opted for another Indian language instead of Hindi — in which case the language would be taught either by appointing a new teacher or via online platforms.

Fadnavis acknowledged the difference of opinion over finalising the grade (class 1 or 5) for implementing the three-language formula.

"The decision (on language policy) has been taken in the interest of Marathi students. If three languages are taught, students will get credit in the academic bank," he added.

Fadnavis also took aim at the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi government led by Uddhav Thackeray, accusing it of double standards.

“When Thackeray was CM, his Cabinet had accepted the Mashelkar Committee’s recommendation to introduce Marathi, Hindi, and English from Class 1. Now he is playing politics. We have been clear that Marathi will remain compulsory. They are only objecting to Hindi, while having no issues with English,” he said.

He claimed Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Vijay Kadam, who runs an educational institution, was a member of the Mashelkar committee.

Fadnavis said the Mahayuti government headed by him issued the two GRs in April and June as part of the sub-group set up by the then Thackeray-led MVA government.

"We changed the decision to make the Hindi language mandatory and made it optional," he added.

Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS had announced a joint march on July 5 to oppose the "imposition" of the Hindi language. The march was cancelled after the government withdrew the GRs.

Fadnavis also took potshots at MNS chief Raj Thackeray.

"Raj Thackeray was nowhere in the picture at that time. He should ask Uddhav why his stand changed when his party joined the Opposition," he said.

Fadnavis said Babasaheb Ambedkar wanted everyone to learn the Hindi language.

"Any Indian who doesn't accept this proposal as part and parcel of a linguistic state has no right to be an Indian. He may be 100 per cent Maharashtrian, 100 per cent Gujarati, and 100 per cent Tamil, but he cannot be an Indian in the real sense of the word, except in geographical sense. If my suggestion is not accepted, India will then cease to be India," he said quoting Ambedkar from "Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar: writings and speeches".

Deputy Chief Ministers Ajit Pawar and Eknath Shinde were also present at the presser.

Pawar appealed to Marathi people not to participate in the morcha given the government's decision to withdraw the GRs.

Shinde said the government's decision will be in the interest of students. "We have no ego," he added.

(With inputs from PTI)