Amid Hindi row, Vaishnaw says Tamil a sweet language

Amid the ongoing debate between the Centre and Tamil Nadu over the three-language policy, Union Minister for IT and Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw on Saturday called Tamil a “sweet language”. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has always ensured that every Indian language receives due respect.

Speaking at the inauguration of a Zetwerk Electronics manufacturing facility in Sriperumbudur, Vaishnaw credited his professor, Sadagopan of IIT-Kanpur, for introducing him to various facets of Tamil culture.

“Tamil culture is ancient, and we all respect its rich heritage and language. All I know is three words — Vanakkam, Eppadi Irukeenga (How are you) and Nandri (thanks). It is one of the country’s and the world’s greatest assets. Let’s take joy in that and let’s enjoy and take pride in all Indian languages,” he said.

All languages be given equal importance: Karat

New Delhi: Amid a raging debate around the National Education Policy’s three-language formula, CPM leader Prakash Karat said the Centre had been insensitive towards the southern states’ apprehensions and suggested all languages be given equal importance. Karat noted that if all languages were treated equally instead of any one being imposed, one of them might automatically evolve as the ‘lingua franca’. pti

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Citing an example, he added, “In the Telecom and Data Protection Laws, our Prime Minister inspired us and asked why should the notice be only in English and why not in all Indian languages. So, taking inspiration from him, in the Law itself we have said all languages in the Constitution must be available as a choice to the users. That is the thought process of PM Modi. So, let’s get above this and let’s make sure that these things which sometimes come in the way of friendship and relationship between different civilisations, between different people and between our own brothers and sisters, those barriers should not come.”

“We should all look at one big goal of making our country very strong, making sure that we become the third largest economy.  Thank you very much, rombha rombha nandri (Many Many thanks),” he said before concluding his address.

Vaishnaw also announced that the government would invest Rs 1,112 crore to set up two electronics manufacturing clusters in Tamil Nadu — one in Pillaipakkam (Kancheepuram) and another in Manalur (Thiruvallur).

“These will be large-scale electronics manufacturing hubs, contributing significantly to the growth of Tamil Nadu and the country,” he said.