Centre not imposing any language on anyone: Naidu

Union Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu on Monday denied as incorrect the perception that the Centre is imposing Hindi language on others, maintaining that the government has only notified the recommendations of a parliamentary panel.

"I was pained to read in a section of the media today (Monday) that DMK leader M.K. Stalin has alleged imposition of Hindi by the central government," the Information and Broadcasting Minister said in a statement here.

"The government of India has no intention to impose any language on anyone," he stressed.

"I would like to clarify that the Parliamentary Committee on Official Language headed by the then Home Minister P. Chidambaram made a recommendation (about use of Hindi by Ministers, MPs etc.) and the same was forwarded to the President of India on June 2, 2011," Naidu said.

"This committee suggested that all those occupying high political offices and who can speak and read Hindi language may be requested to give their speeches/statements in Hindi. The President and all Ministers come in this category."

Naidu said the present Bharatiya Janata Party-led government notified this recommendation on March 31.

He said the committee's suggestion was only recommendatory and not mandatory.

"It is totally false and mischievous to allege that an ordinance was passed in this regard," Naidu said.

DMK leader M.K. Stalin on Saturday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was "attempting to decimate the unity of the nation" ever since he came to power at the Centre.

He also alleged that the BJP government was "betraying the non-Hindi speaking citizens".

Naidu, however, pointed out that the DMK was a member of the Union government in 2011 when this recommendation was made and forwarded by the parliamentary committee to the President.

--IANS

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