File photo of PMK chief Ramadoss
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's endeavor to promote Hindi as the official language of the government has angered two allies from Tamil Nadu, who made their dissent clear today.
The go-getter of a controversy has been scripted by an order from the Home Ministry issued on May 27 that asks officers to post in Hindi on Twitter and other social media accounts. An English version is optional.
PMK Chief Ramadoss described this as "an imposition of Hindi" that he deemed "unacceptable." The PMK was one of five regional parties in Tamil Nadu that formed a political cooperative in the state with the BJP before the national election last month. Another member of that alliance was the MDMK, whose leader V Gopalsamy, popularly known as Vaiko, warned, "Don't wake up a sleeping tiger. The imposition of Hindi is a threat to national integrity....Tamil Nadu has shed blood against the imposition of Hindi earlier."
In the 60s, Tamil Nadu saw violent protests against a move to make Hindi the country's sole official language. The issue remains an emotive one in the state.
Hindi and English are India's official languages for union government business, although India's constitution recognises a total of 22 languages.
In an attempt to propitiate other parties, Home Minister Rajnath Singh tweeted last evening (in English): "The Home Ministry is of the view that all Indian languages are important. The Ministry is committed to promote all languages of the country."
The reach-our initiative has missed its mark.
The government order on social media applies to Hindi-speaking states, but a lengthening line of opponents say the principle and spirit of the diktat is insensitive and offensive. In a letter to the PM asking for the writ to be urgently amended, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa said government communication through social media is crucial and relevant for people across the country.
Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah placed his opposition in the context of his state "where our official languages are English & Urdu."