India, April 18 -- Amid a brewing language controversy in Maharashtra, state Congress president Harshvardhan Sapkal accused the BJP-led government of "imposing Hindi" on Marathi-speaking students, warning that the move threatens to erase regional languages and cultural identity.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Sapkal demanded the immediate rollback of the Maharashtra government's decision to make Hindi a mandatory third language for students from Classes 1 to 5 in Marathi and English-medium schools under the New Education Policy.

"The Marathi language is Maharashtra's 'Asmita' (identity) and culture, but the BJP government is trying to hurt it. Unity in diversity is our identity, and the BJP is attempting to erase it. BJP want...