Bengaluru: Union home minister Amit Shah’s exhortation to use Hindi more often by citizens in order to make it India’s identity was only asking for trouble.

Several leaders cutting across party lines have condemned Amit Shah’s views on the language, expressing that Hindi imposition would stall the growth and relegate the importance of regional languages. 

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, a strident critic of PM Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah, stressed on the importance of mother tongue. 

 

Stalin, the president of DMK said, “We have been continuously waging protest against imposition of Hindi. The remarks made by Amit Shah gave us a jolt, it will affect the unity of the country.

We demand that he takes his statement back.” 

HD Kumaraswamy, the Karnataka JD(S) leader had this to say, “Across the country, Hindi Diwas was celebrated. When will PM Modi celebrate Kannada diwas, which is also an official language according to the Constitution."

 

Former Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah was more articulate in his views when he said, he doesn’t oppose the voluntary learning of Hindi, but opposed its imposition 

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Asaduddin Owaisi, the AIMIM leader too joined the bandwagon, criticising Amit Shah for his imposition. 

 

The Congress, which jumps at every opportunity to criticise the BJP, could not have found anything better. Anand Sharma, its deputy leader in Rajya Sabha said, "The Constitution clearly respects India's diversity as it recognises 22 languages spoken by a large number of people. We should not stir up controversies on emotive and sensitive issues which have been settled by the maturity of India's constitution makers and the prime minister after independence. Hindi is spoken by a majority of India's people, but equally important is the English language to be globally competent and to be a global leader. So, yes we celebrate the Hindi Divas. I am also Hindi-speaking. But I respect all other languages in the country."

Also Read: Karnataka: Deputy CM Govind Karjol stresses Kannada’s eternity

Now, the latest celebrity to join the list of criticisers is actor Kamal Hassan. 

In a tweet, he said that when laws are enacted, people should be consulted.