Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has opposed Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s “audacious push” for Hindi language saying "we won't be enslaved by Hindi."
Earlier, Shah presided over the 38th meeting of the Committee of Parliament on official language in New Delhi.
Shah said that Hindi must be accepted without opposition even if the pace of the acceptance is slow, according to media reports.
He also said that Hindi is not in competition with other languages and the nation will be empowered only by promoting all Indian languages, mentioned a report in NDTV.
"I strongly denounce Union Home Minister @AmitShah's audacious push for Hindi acceptance. It's a blatant attempt to subjugate non-Hindi speakers. Tamil Nadu rejects any form of Hindi hegemony and imposition. Our language and heritage define us - we won't be enslaved by Hindi!," MK Stalin tweeted.
Stalin also asked Shah to take note of "vehement" opposition to the "imposition" of Hindi in states like Karnataka and West Bengal.
"Many states like Karnataka, West Bengal also have been vehemently resisting #HindiImposition. Hon'ble @AmitShah, please take heed of the growing resistance! Igniting the embers of the '1965 Anti-Hindi Imposition Agitations' would be an unwise move," he tweeted.
National Language
As per the Official Languages Act, 1963, which provides for the languages which may be used for the official purposes of the Union, for transaction of business in Parliament, for Central and State Acts and for certain purposes in High Courts, both Hindi and English are to be used by the Government in most administrative documents that are intended for the public.
A similar row erupted after Union Home Minister Amit Shah during a meeting of the Committee of Parliament on Official Language on August 4, said that Hindi must be accepted without opposition even if the pace of the acceptance is slow, according to The Hindu. The Home Minister also said that Hindi is not in competition with other languages and the nation will be empowered only by promoting all Indian languages.