India, June 25 -- Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has voiced strong opposition to the state government's decision to introduce Hindi as a third language from Class 1, suggesting instead that it should begin from Class 5. Speaking to reporters in Mumbai on Tuesday, Pawar emphasized that students should focus on learning Marathi from the start of their schooling to ensure fluency in reading and writing the state's primary language.

The controversy stems from a recently amended government order stating that Hindi will generally be taught as the third language to students in Marathi and English medium schools from Classes 1 to 5. Although the government clarified that Hindi is not compulsory and students could opt for other Indi...