Chennai, Mar 3:
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has strongly opposed the imposition of Hindi in public spaces, reaffirming the state’s commitment to linguistic equality and the two-language policy.
In a statement, CM Stalin dismissed arguments equating the presence of Hindi on railway station signboards with its use on currency notes. “Some so-called intellectuals ask why Hindi on railway signs should be removed when it exists on currency notes. Why should we walk into a cremation ground at midnight?” he questioned, emphasizing that language imposition and linguistic inclusivity are two different issues.
He clarified that Tamil, along with other regional languages listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, is already present on currency notes, ensuring linguistic equality. However, the use of Hindi in railway stations and central government institutions reflects an unfair imposition rather than equality.
Opposition to Language Imposition
Stalin asserted that Tamilians do not harbor hatred toward any language but have always resisted forced imposition. “Tamil Nadu has never remained silent in the face of language imposition. The state upholds a two-language policy, yet the Governor falsely claims that it denies Tamil Nadu youth the opportunity to learn South Indian languages,” he said.
Rejecting Misinformation on Hindi and Sanskrit
Criticizing efforts to portray Hindi as India’s national language and Sanskrit as its primary language, Stalin called these claims “filtered lies” not supported by history. He reaffirmed the DMKās long-standing resistance against linguistic dominance, stating, “Even if we lose our positions, face imprisonment, or make sacrifices, we will stand firm in protecting Tamil from linguistic oppression.”