Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s intervention on Tuesday in the matter of a Parliamentary panel’s recommendation to make Hindi the medium of instruction in all technical and non-technical higher educational institutions. Pinarayi Vijayan wrote to PM Modi in a letter that the “essence of India is defined by the concept of ‘unity in diversity,’ which acknowledges cultural and linguistic diversity,” according to news agency ANI. He warned the central government against favouring one language over others, claiming that such a move would undermine the nation’s integrity.
“The job seekers and students of our country have their serious apprehensions in this regard. I take this opportunity to suggest that question papers for competitive exams for posts in Government of India may be given in all languages specified in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution,” Vijayan said in his letter.
He also took to Twitter to highlight the issue, saying “Union Govt’s Hindi imposition move is an onslaught on India’s cherished ideal, unity in diversity.”
“In terms of education and employment, it will disadvantage the vast majority of Indians. This callous action, an affront to cooperative federalism, must be strongly opposed “He continued.
This comes just two days after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin objected strongly to a report presented to President Droupadi Murmu by the parliamentary committee on official language chaired by union home minister Amit Shah.
“Mandating a common language, which is practically impossible, is equivalent to declaring that only Hindi speakers are rightful citizens of India, while speakers of other languages are second-class citizens.” “This is a divisive issue,” Stalin said.
Stalin urged the prime minister to abandon efforts to make Hindi mandatory in favour of preserving India’s unity.
The Constitution’s Eighth Schedule grants equal rights to 22 languages, including Tamil.
“Why is it recommended to discontinue English language question paper in the Union recruitment examinations to give preference for Hindi? It is against the spirit of the constitution to provide undue, unfair advantage to Hindi and discriminate against other Indian languages while raising “Bharat Mata ki Jai” as a political slogan in the parliament,” Stalin said.