MUMBAI, June 28 -- The state government's push for a three-language policy in primary school education has witnessed intense resistance from the Opposition, which has now escalated with Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray all set for a joint rally against the "imposition of Hindi" in the state on July 5. Here's a look at the genesis of language politics and its fall-out. On April 16, the Mahayuti government declared that Hindi would be made the mandatory third language from Classes 1 to 5 in government and private schools. The move was part of phased implementation of the union government's National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 at the primary school level, from the 2025-26 academic year. It triggered strong opposition from political, social and cultural groups following which the decision was amended. On April 20, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis announced that Hindi would not after all be compulsory and students could opt for any other regional language. On June 17, a fresh order was issued which stated, "Hindi will generally be the third language in Marathi- and English-medium schools from Classes 1 to 5." However, it came with a rider: students would be allowed to opt for any other language but Marathi provided there are at least 20 students taking that language in the school and a separate teacher is appointed. Those opposing the move called it an "indirect imposition of Hindi". They also argued that it may be a tall order for a school to get 20 students choosing to study a different language; and additionally, schools may not be able to provide separate teachers to teach different languages. The mandate is such that students would perforce be led to study Hindi, they felt. Uddhav Thackeray equated the decision with the Emergency, while Raj Thackeray urged schools against following the mandate as he felt "an imposition of Hindi was an anti-Maharashtra activity". State Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal accused Fadnavis of "stabbing in the heart of Maharashtra and Marathi language". Fadnavis questioned the opposition, saying if English was accepted, why the resistance to other Indian languages Marathi language has always been a sensitive issue politically, as Maharashta was formed on linguistic lines. Both Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS derive their political legacy from the Shiv Sena, founded by the late Bal Thackeray, rooted in Marathi identity. Since then, Marathi pride has been the focus of both parties. Since he formed MNS in 2006, Raj made an anti-north India stance his unique selling point. Uddhav, on the other hand, has continued to use the "Marathi manoos" plank to further his politics. Both parties performed poorly in the assembly election held last year. And now, ahead of the local body polls - especially that of the BMC, and other local bodies in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) - the idea of Marathi identity through a fight against the purported imposition of Hindi has given both a renewed energy to fire up Marathi pride. The BJP has been firm on its mandate. On Friday, the party decided to take the Thackeray brothers head-on, arguing that it was PM Narendra Modi who ensured that Marathi be elevated as a classical language. Pushing Hindi in schools also will help the party garner north Indian votes en masse in MMR, said BJP insiders. Following pushback from Opposition parties, on June 23, Fadnavis announced that the government would seek the views of language experts, litterateurs and political parties before arriving at a final decision, and asked school education minister Dada Bhuse to consult with concerned individuals and organisations. The language issue is likely to dominate the monsoon session of the state legislature, which begins in Mumbai on Monday....