Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray publicly criticised the state government’s reported plan to make Hindi a mandatory third language in schools, arguing that the move ignores linguistic diversity and questions reciprocity from Hindi-speaking states. Thackeray said Minister Dada Bhuse had asked him to reconsider his opposition, but the MNS leader replied that he would not be convinced unless states such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Rajasthan also adopted additional languages. He added that the Maratha empire never imposed Marathi outside its region and asserted that no language should be forced on anyone. Addressing remarks that several leaders, including members of the Thackeray family, were educated in English-medium institutions, he noted that fluency in English did not weaken their commitment to Marathi, citing examples such as former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Thackeray reiterated respect for all languages while maintaining that Maharashtra should safeguard the primacy of Marathi in official and educational settings.