From WB chief minister Mamata Banerjee to MNM chief Kamal Haasan to several others, all have joined hands in criticising Union home minister’s call for making Hindi a national language
Bengaluru: Union home minister Amit Shah’s exhortation to use Hindi more often by citizens in order to make it India’s identity was only asking for trouble.
Several leaders cutting across party lines have condemned Amit Shah’s views on the language, expressing that Hindi imposition would stall the growth and relegate the importance of regional languages.
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, a strident critic of PM Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah, stressed on the importance of mother tongue.
My best wishes to all on #HindiDiwas. We should respect all languages and cultures equally. We may learn many languages but we should never forget our mother-language
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) September 14, 2019
Stalin, the president of DMK said, “We have been continuously waging protest against imposition of Hindi. The remarks made by Amit Shah gave us a jolt, it will affect the unity of the country.
We demand that he takes his statement back.”
HD Kumaraswamy, the Karnataka JD(S) leader had this to say, “Across the country, Hindi Diwas was celebrated. When will PM Modi celebrate Kannada diwas, which is also an official language according to the Constitution."
ಇಂದು ದೇಶದಾದ್ಯಂತ ಕೇಂದ್ರ ಸರ್ಕಾರ 'ಹಿಂದಿ ದಿವಸ್' ಆಚರಿಸುತ್ತಿದೆ. ಸಂವಿಧಾನದಲ್ಲಿ ಹಿಂದಿಯೊಂದಿಗೆ ಅಧಿಕೃತ ಭಾಷೆ ಎನಿಸಿಕೊಂಡಿರುವ ಕನ್ನಡದ ಭಾಷಾ ದಿವಸವನ್ನು ದೇಶಾದ್ಯಂತ ಯಾವಾಗ ಆಚರಿಸುತ್ತೀರಿ @narendramodi ಯವರೇ? ಕನ್ನಡಿಗರೂ ಈ ಒಕ್ಕೂಟ ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥೆಯ ಭಾಗವಾಗಿದ್ದಾರೆ ನೆನಪಿರಲಿ.#StopHindiImposition#HindiDiwas#ಕನ್ನಡದಿನ
— H D Kumaraswamy (@hd_kumaraswamy) September 14, 2019
Former Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah was more articulate in his views when he said, he doesn’t oppose the voluntary learning of Hindi, but opposed its imposition
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Asaduddin Owaisi, the AIMIM leader too joined the bandwagon, criticising Amit Shah for his imposition.
Hindi isn't every Indian's "mother tongue". Could you try appreciating the diversity & beauty of the many mother tongues that dot this land? Article 29 gives every Indian the right to a distinct language, script & culture.
— Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) September 14, 2019
India's much bigger than Hindi, Hindu, Hindutva https://t.co/YMVjNlaYry
The Congress, which jumps at every opportunity to criticise the BJP, could not have found anything better. Anand Sharma, its deputy leader in Rajya Sabha said, "The Constitution clearly respects India's diversity as it recognises 22 languages spoken by a large number of people. We should not stir up controversies on emotive and sensitive issues which have been settled by the maturity of India's constitution makers and the prime minister after independence. Hindi is spoken by a majority of India's people, but equally important is the English language to be globally competent and to be a global leader. So, yes we celebrate the Hindi Divas. I am also Hindi-speaking. But I respect all other languages in the country."
Also Read: Karnataka: Deputy CM Govind Karjol stresses Kannada’s eternity
Now, the latest celebrity to join the list of criticisers is actor Kamal Hassan.
In a tweet, he said that when laws are enacted, people should be consulted.
Now you are constrained to prove to us that India will continue to be a free country.
— Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) September 16, 2019
You must consult the people before you make a new law or a new scheme. pic.twitter.com/u0De38bzk0
Last Updated Sep 16, 2019, 2:18 PM IST