NEW DELHI: Amid a growing political uproar over the Maharashtra government’s move to introduce Hindi in schools, deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde on Saturday lashed out at the Shiv Sena (UBT), accusing it of playing “double-faced” politics and misrepresenting facts around the three-language formula.Responding to Uddhav Thackeray’s faction’s demand for the resignation of school education minister Dada Bhuse, Shinde was quoted as saying by news agency ANI, “The then chief minister of Maharashtra had made mandatory the teaching of three languages – Marathi, English, and Hindi – based on the recommendations of the Raghunath Mashelkar Committee. When they were in power, they had a different opinion. Now that they are not, their stand has completely changed. The people who practise double-faced politics have no right to demand Dada Bhuse’s resignation.”This comes after Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray accused the BJP-led state government of forcing Hindi upon students and demanded that no language should be imposed. “Focus on what children are already studying. Restructure it and make it better. But don’t burden students further,” he said.NCP supremo Sharad Pawar also opposed the move, stating that while Hindi is widely spoken, it should not be forced at the primary level. “Let them learn Hindi after Class 5. But imposing it too early burdens children and sidelines their mother tongue,” he told reporters, urging the state to withdraw its insistence.Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut blamed the central government, claiming that the decision was part of the new education policy promoted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah. “This wasn’t the Maharashtra government’s decision. It was imposed by the Centre. The new education policy has been opposed by many states,” Raut alleged, as quoted by ANI.Meanwhile, deputy CM Ajit Pawar clarified that the cabinet would soon discuss the matter. “We’ve never supported forcing Hindi from the beginning. Let it be taught from Class 5, not earlier,” he said, according to news agency PTI.The controversy was triggered after an April 16 government resolution made Hindi mandatory as a third language in Marathi- and English-medium schools. Following backlash, the rule was amended to say Hindi would be the third language “in general,” with students allowed to opt for alternatives if at least 20 of them chose so.CM Devendra Fadnavis has also defended the policy, asserting that Marathi remains compulsory, while Hindi and English follow the Mashelkar committee recommendations accepted by the previous Uddhav Thackeray government. He said, “Marathi is compulsory. Hindi is optional. Students can choose any Indian language.”The issue is likely to be discussed during the upcoming monsoon session of the state legislature, with opposition parties planning joint protests against what they call the “imposition” of Hindi.