The Home Ministry has clarified that it does not seek to impose communication in Hindi on States which are not Hindi speaking. In an official release the Ministry said, this is neither a new policy nor an attempt to impose the use of Hindi on any non-Hindi speaking States.
The release said that the instructions of the Ministry's Department of Official Languages had only reiterated the existing Government of India’s policy on the use of Hindi in which the use of Hindi is compulsory in Government’s communication only in the Hindi speaking States.
It said the Department had issued a circular in March this year stating that in keeping with the existing policy Hindi speaking States must give equal importance to the use of Hindi in its social media platforms.
Talking to reporters in Bangalore, Union Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said Hindi was not being forced on anyone. There is no question of forcing any language. Let there be no apprehensions in this regard.
Briefing reporters in New Delhi today, BJP spokesperson Shahanawaz Hussain clarified that the government is not imposing Hindi on any non-Hindi speaking people. He said, Hindi is the country's official language and promoting it is not a crime.
The Official Language department's circulars have invited criticism from some parties. In Tamil Nadu, DMK leader M Karunanidhi and NDA Tamil Nadu allies MDMK chief Vaiko and PMK founder S Ramadoss have criticized the move.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has also written to Prime Minister describing the proposal as against the letter and spirit of the Official Languages Act.
The Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Omar Abdullah told reporters after meeting with Home Minster Rajnath Singh, that the government cannot impose the language on non Hindi speaking people.
Congress advised to the government to be more cautious while seeking to promote official language Hindi in the social media. Addressing a Press conference in New Delhi today, Former Finance Minister and senior Congress leader P Chidambaram said, the issue will result in a backlash in non-Hindi states especially in Tamil Nadu.
