NE NEWS SERVICE
CHENNAI, JUNE 12
In yet another Hindirani vs Tamil Annai issue, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president MK Stalin has severely condemned at another attempt at pushing the Hindi cause in Tamil Nadu.
@NewIndAssurance specifically mentioned under point 25 that all advertisements, tenders and press releases to be published in newspapers in English, Hindi and Regional languages as done by any other Public Sector Organisation of India. We respect all regional languages.
— New India Assurance (@NewIndAssurance) June 12, 2023
Incidentally, state BJP chief K Annamalai has been proclaiming that he won’t allow imposition of Hindi on Tamils. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have been wooing Tamils with various initiatives like Kashi Tamil Sangamam, Saurashtra Tamil Sangamam and installation of ‘Sengol’ in the new Parliament.
Even BJP partner AIADMK has been condemning the thrusting of Hindi.
- A five-page circular from the public sector general insurance company drawing attention to “checkpoints for Hindi implementation” has drawn an angry reaction from MK Stalin
- We will remove the undeserving special status that Hindi enjoys everywhere in the Union Government, like Railways, Postal Department, Banking and Parliament that affects us and our people on a day-to-day basis: DMK chief
- Incidentally, state BJP chief K Annamalai has been proclaiming that he won’t allow imposition of Hindi on Tamils
- Even BJP partner AIADMK has been condemning the thrusting of Hindi
This time, it involves New India Assurance, which has put out a circular titled, “Checkpoints for Hindi implementation” A five-page circular by the public sector general insurance company on how Hindi must be prioritised in accordance with the controversial Section 3(3) of the Official Languages Act, 1963, which was what set off the anti-Hindi agitation in Tamil Nadu, leading to strife and alienation of Tamil speakers in the state and had implications on national unity at the time.
The state chief minister Stalin called for the immediate withdrawal of the circular and demanded that an apology be issued by its chairperson. He said, it “must be withdrawn with immediate effect and its Chairperson Neerja Kapur needs to apologise for the disrespect shown towards non-Hindi speakers of India and non-Hindi speaking employees of New India Assurance.”
He further sharpened his tone, bringing in the thorny question of taxes and resource distribution. “We pay our taxes, contribute to the progress and believe in our rich heritage and this nation’s diversity. Our languages deserve to be treated equally. We will resist any attempt to replace Tamil with Hindi in our land.”
New India Assurance attempted to divert the matter by tweeting a reply to the chief minister, pointing out to “point 25”, which says advertisements would be published in Hindi, English, and Regional Languages. But there was no word on the need to issue this and the remaining 30 points in the list of 31, which clearly speak of how Hindi must be prioritised.
He hinted at the tumultuous 1960s when his father M. Karunanidhi spearheaded a state-wide movement that eventually forced Delhi to retreat and postpone the decision to phase out English and replace it with Hindi. Stalin wrote, “gone are the days of non-Hindi speaking citizens of India tolerating the second-class treatment meted out to them, despite their contribution in propelling India’s growth with their hard work and talent. Tamil Nadu and DMK will do everything under our power to #StopHindiImposition, as we have always strived in our history.”
He added that “we will remove the undeserving special status that Hindi enjoys everywhere in the Union Government, like Railways, Postal Department, Banking and Parliament that affects us and our people on a day-to-day basis.”
