Chennai:
A controversial circular issued by the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) of India asking its employees in Tamil Nadu to sign in Hindi on Mondays has come under fire. DMK Chief M Karunanidhi has condemned it. Referring to the anti-Hindi agitation in Tamil Nadu during the 1930s and 60s, he said it was a similar order that triggered those protests.
Wondering if the Centre would do the needful, the DMK Chief asked, "whether Jawaharlal Nehru's promise that Hindi would not be imposed on non-Hindi speakers has been forgotten."
In Coimbatore, members of the Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam protested outside the LIC's branch office and attempted to paint in black over Hindi writings on name boards. Around 40 people were detained by the police.
The circular in question was reportedly issued by LIC's Regional Manager [HR]. When NDTV tried to contact him, he did not take our repeated calls.