Published 16:39 IST, September 15th 2019
Sitaram Yechury: 'RSS agenda is to impose Hindi as national language'
Sitaram Yechury: 'Agenda of RSS is to impose Hindi as the national language. RSS ideology is one nation, one language, and one culture, which is not acceptable'
The agenda of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is to impose Hindi as the national language, said Sitaram Yechury, General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), on Sunday, September 15, 2019. "The agenda of RSS is to impose Hindi as the national language. RSS ideology is one nation, one language, and one culture, which is not acceptable," said Yechury.
His statement comes in the backdrop of Union Home Minister Amit Shah's call to culturally unify India with Hindi as its national language on Saturday."
'All languages must be treated equally'
'All the languages listed in the 8th schedule of the Constitution are our national languages. Hindi can emerge as a language of communication but any effort to impose Hindi will only lead to a negative reaction as it happened in the past. All languages must be treated equally,' Yechury said.
Shah's statement triggered a row with several opposition leaders training their guns at him asking him to reconsider his appeal as it "poses a danger to the national unity." Speaking as the chief guest at a function celebrating Hindi Divas, Shah said that while unity in diversity is India's defining trait, a common language is needed as a culturally unifying factor.
"While diversity in languages is the strength of our nation, a national language is needed so that foreign languages and cultures do not overpower our own," he said. The Union Home Minister said that the government would take Hindi Divas outside Delhi, and would celebrate a Hindi Saptah across the country. He called Hindi the heart and soul of freedom struggle.
Amit Shah targeted over remarks made
CPI on Saturday targeted Amit Shah over the 'one language' remarks made by the Home Minister on the occasion of Hindi Diwas and demanded him to withdraw his statement. In a statement issued by CPI, the party has stated that there is a need to respect, protect and nurture diversity of the nation so that unity is ensured. The statement further stated that Amit Shah's views are 'an attempt of NDA Government to impose Hindi as a part of Hindutva agenda of RSS', which CPI alleged will divide the nation.
On Saturday, speaking on the occasion of Hindi Diwas in Vigyan Bhawan, Home Minister Amit shah said that Hindi is the most widely spoken language which unites people across the country. Taking to Twitter, the Home Minister also said that India has many languages and every language has its importance. However, he insisted on the need for one language that becomes India's identity internationally.
(Inputs from ANI)
Updated 17:31 IST, September 15th 2019