What is there to celebrate 'Hindi Diwas' for non-Hindi speakers, asks Kumaraswamy

Terming 'Hindi Diwas' celebration as an "underhand method" to impose langu on people speaking or langus, JD(S) leer H D Kumaraswamy on Monday demanded its cancellation.

In a series of tweets on a day on which Hindi Diwas is celebrated, former Chief Minister warned against "imposition" of langu and said cordial nature of Kannigas should t be construed as ir weakness.

"In India, which is a land of diverse langu, culture and tritions, several means are being used to impose Hindi on people speaking or langus including Kanna.

Today's Hindi Diwas is also one such underhand method. Proud Kannigas are opposed to this Hindi Diwas which is a symbol of linguistic arrogance," Kumaraswamy tweeted in Kanna.

Hindi is t our national langu and re is such concept in our constitution, he said and alleged that despite this re have been attempts to project it as a national langu and "do politics over it".

"It has w reached an extreme. Before people of or langus revolt against such attempts, imposition of Hindi should be stopped," he ded.

Education or learning is being used as an excuse to impose Hindi, Kumaraswamy said, ding, learning can be only by choice and t by imposition.

imposition of a langu should t question identity of ar langu; it should t le to "expiration" of ar langu or impair country's culture, diversity and unity, he said.

Pointing out that September 14 is observed as Hindi Diwas to commemorate birth anniversary of Beohar Rajendra Simha, who fought for implementation of Hindi in central ministration, he asked, "what is re for n-Hindi speakers to celebrate? Pointless Hindi Diwas should be cancelled." Kumaraswamy said, if Hindi Diwas has to be celebrated, n days of all or official langus including Kanna should be observed by Centre across country.

"Separate days should be anunced for this. vember 1 (Karnataka formation day) should be observed as Kanna day across country." In recent times, a wave of 'anti-Hindi imposition' sentiment has gared momentum in a section of population in Karnataka.

Slogans such as, "Hindi Gotthilla Hogo. Naavu Kannigaru, Naavu Dravidaru" (We don't kw Hindi, go away. We are Kannigas, we are Dravidians), also #ServeInMyLangu a social media campaign demanding for government services to be available in Kanna have gained traction.

Like Hindi Diwas, national education policy with three-langu formula was also an attempt to impose Hindi, Kumaraswamy, son of former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda said.

"Kannigas' cordial nature should t be considered as ir weakness...," he ded.

JD(S) leer h recently asked as to how much more people of or langus including Kannigas have to "sacrifice" in this country for t kwing Hindi.

Alleging that political leers from South were deprived of opportunities by "Hindi politics and discrimination," he h also said it has prevented many South Indians from becoming Prime Minister.

(Im credits: PTI)