Hindi friend of all languages: Shah

Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday said efforts were made to use language as a tool to divide India several decades ago.

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Speaking as a chief guest during the “golden jubilee” celebrations of the Department of Official Language in New Delhi, Shah said Hindi was a “friend” of all Indian languages and can’t be the “enemy”.

He added that there should not be opposition to any foreign language.

Shah’s remarks came after a massive Hindi row erupted between the Centre and Tamil Nadu Government earlier this year. The DMK-led state government had accused the PM Modi-led government of withholding around Rs 2,000 crore meant for the state after it rejected the three-language formula proposed in the National Education Policy (NEP).

“For the past several decades, efforts were made to use language as a tool to divide India. However, these efforts could not succeed. Therefore, we should ensure that languages should be used to unite the country,” said Shah.

He added that everybody should ensure that Indian languages become a powerful medium to unite the nation rather than divide it.

Shah said if any country had to move forward, then it’s necessary for its administration to be run in the

mother tongue.

“No country’s culture, history and tradition can grow apart from the language. Thus, it is necessary to enrich the languages,” he pointed out.

He said Indian languages should be used as much as possible in government work, not only in the Central Government but also in the state governments. “We will also contact the states, try to convince and persuade them on this,” Shah added.

The Home Minister reiterated his appeal to states to take steps to start engineering and medical courses in local languages.