Protests in Karnataka, Stalin’s ‘Hindi-a’ Confusion: Amit Shah’s Language Appeal Miffs Southern States

Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s appeal to unify India with the country’s most widely-spoken language, Hindi, was met with sharp criticism from the southern states on Saturday.

Veteran leaders such as Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) president MK Stalin and former Karnataka chief ministers Siddaramaiah and HD Kumaraswamy came down heavily on Shah for pitching for his “one nation, one language” pitch on the occasion of Hindi Diwas.

Several pro-Kannada organisations, including Karnataka Ranadheera Pade, also held protest marches in Bengaluru against Hindi Diwas.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi should issue a clarification on Amit shah’s statement. Else, the DMK will prepare itself for another language protest. Is it India or Hindi-a? India stands for unity in diversity. The BJP-led government is trying to destroy this and go against it. The home minister should withdraw his statement,” said Stalin.

Earlier in June, responding to the suggestion of a three-language formula for schools in Tamil Nadu, the DMK chief had said that “Hindi is not in the blood of the people of Tamil Nadu”.

“We have always stood against the imposition of Hindi and have raised our voices against the same in cases of exams like the railways and postal departments. We strongly condemn the home minister’s statement,” Stalin said on Saturday.