Their heart beats for Hindi: Tamil Nadu CM Stalin targets BJP as Assembly passes resolution against Hindi imposition

The Chief Minister Stalin-led DMK government observed the recommendations were “detrimental to the people of non-Hindi speaking states, including Tamil Nadu”.

‘Contrary to the promises of Nehru’

Stating the recommendations were against the federal principles of the country, the Tamil Nadu government called the move contrary to the promises made by Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first prime minister.

In 1949, while debating in the Constituent Assembly of India against the status of India’s language, Nehru cautioned against imposing Hindi on non-Hindi speaking states and called it “a tone of authoritarianism and a dangerous approach”.

Expressing concern, the Tamil Nadu Assembly also said the recommendations were also against the two-language policy resolution passed by Perarignar Anna (former Tamil Nadu CM CN Annadurai who strongly agitated against the imposition of Hindi).

“The policy is against the use of English as the official language ensured by the resolutions passed in 1968 and 1976 on official languages,” the government said.

Referring to the previous agitations against Hindi imposition, the resolution added that Tamil Nadu has once again been pushed to the forefront to uphold the rights of people of non-Hindi speaking states.

And also to defend its mother tongue (Tamil) while asking to keep English as the official language and preserve all 22 languages in the Eight Schedule of the Indian Constitution.

‘Centre’s heart beats for Hindi’

“They are trying to divide India into three parts: States that speak Hindi, states that use Hindi to some extent, states that do not use Hindi at all. Tamil Nadu comes under the third category. The move to portray us, non-Hindi speakers, as third-class citizens should be opposed,” Stalin  said.

Criticising of the Union Government for observing Hindi Diwas on 14 September, he said: “There is no such day to celebrate other Indian languages. Is the Union government ready to announce all the languages in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution, including Tamil, as official languages?”

“English should continue as the official language till the time non-Hindi speaking states want it. In education, jobs, do not favour those who know Hindi. It’s against the Constitution,” the chief minister added.

He also suggested that Tamil should be made the official language of the Madras High Court.

Tuesday’s resolution against Hindi imposition comes after Stalin, on 16 October, shot off a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in which he said that attempts to impose Hindi were impractical and divisive, and would put non-Hindi-speaking people in a disadvantageous position.

Meanwhile, the parliamentary panel’s report recommends phasing out English as the medium of instruction in central professional institutions like IITs, IIMs, and AIIMS, and replacing it with Hindi in Hindi-speaking states and other regional languages elsewhere.

The report also recommends making Hindi mandatory, instead of English, in entrance exams.

After Stalin first raised the issue, Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan and Telangana Urban Affairs and IT Minister KT Rama Rao wrote to PM Modi warning him of possible repercussions in the form of widening socio-economic schisms in the country.

BJP stages walkout

Meanwhile, BJP legislative party leader Nainar Nagendran refuted the charge that the Union government was trying to impose Hindi on non-Hindi speaking states like Tamil Nadu.

“The Union government and PM Modi have always promoted regional languages,” he said before staging a walkout along with two more party MLAs — MR Gandhi and C Saraswathy.

(With inputs from Ajay Tomar)