Date:17/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/17/stories/2008111759611400.htm

National

Marathi, compulsory in Urdu medium schools

MUMBAI: Marathi will be made a compulsory subject in Maharashtra’s Urdu medium schools to ensure more jobs to minorities in government departments, Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh has said.

“In Maharashtra, there cannot be an option to Marathi. German or French cannot be an option. The option for Marathi is Marathi,” Mr. Deshmukh said.

“Knowledge of Marathi is essential in the State and one cannot accept that someone does not know Marathi,” he said after giving away the State government’s Excellence in Journalism awards here on Saturday. – PTI