Centre’s clarification on Hindi fails to convince Opposition

Despite the union government’s clarification that it had only requested Hindi-speaking MPs to use the language and not thrust it on others, DMK and Congress parties in the state have raised strong objections to the same. 

DMK Rajya Sabha MP TKS Elangovan, said, “The order is not just about asking MPs (who know Hindi) to speak in Hindi inside Parliament and government functions. If the government wants to promote the official language, there are many ways to do it. The recommendation also extends beyond the realm of Parliament. It also pertains to printing forms in regional languages in non-Hindi speaking states. Why has the government been silent on addressing the linguistic concerns of non-Hindi speakers, he wondered.

His leader and Leader of Opposition in the Assembly MK Stalin was among the first to take the warpath against the President giving his consent to the related legislation sent by the Narendra Modi regime. 

Stalin had even cautioned the BJP regime at the Centre not to induce another anti-Hindi agitation. Echoing his ally’s views, Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president Su Thirunavukkarasar said, “When Congress or BJP’s Vajpayee ruled, such pressure (to Hindi) was not there. I wonder why this government is suddenly raking up a sentimental issue? People of Tamil Nadu are always against imposition of Hindi. Pandit Nehru had assured that Hindi would not be imposed on non-Hindi speakers. Now they are imposing Hindi on non-Hind speakers. There are lots of developmental projects and problems like drought and unemployment that must be addressed. When they remain unaddressed, why are they involving in such issues? ,” he said.