Trinamool hits out at Mulayam for opposing English

The Trinamool Congress Monday criticised Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav for demanding a ban on English language in parliament.

While Trinamool MP Derek O'Brien found the "anti-English mindset in politics" worrying, party supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee opined "respecting all languages unified the world as one family".

"Mulayam-ji's anti-English remarks are disturbing. Anti-English mindset in politics is worrying. It represents a disconnect with the energies of new India and today's youth. English is important for jobs, modern economy," said O'Brien.

The Rajya Sabha member also lambasted the erstwhile Left Front regime for banning English as a language in primary school level which made Bengal "suffer for decades".

Banerjee used a social networking site to profess her love and respect for all languages.

"I love and respect all languages - be it local, regional, national or international. Of course, everybody loves one's mother tongue and uses it most of the time. But, at the same time one uses so many other languages also," said Banerjee on her official Facebook page.

"Language is a means of communication and sharing our views. I do respect all languages and such a respect unifies a region, a State and the entire world as one large family," added Banerjee.

At an event held Saturday in Uttar Pradesh to felicitate people involved in promotion of Hindi, Mulayam Singh said: "There should be a ban on English address in parliament. Countries which use their mother tongue are more developed. It's the need of the hour to promote Hindi".