In a tweet, Amit Shah, marking the celebration of Hindi Diwas, said that it is important that Hindi becomes a unifying language in India that will represent the country in the world and will stand its ground against foreign languages.
Home Minister Amit Shah's remarks that "only Hindi can unite the country" created a massive outrage on Saturday with several leaders across the political spectrum criticising his comments.
In a tweet, Amit Shah, marking the celebration of Hindi Diwas, said that it is important that Hindi becomes a unifying language in India that will represent the country in the world and will stand its ground against foreign languages.
Here are the reactions of political leaders who hit back at his statement and the leaders come came to his defence:
(With ANI inputs)
1. Amit Shah's comments on Hindi Diwas
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On the occasion of Hindi Diwas, Amit Shah tweeted, "India is a country of different languages and every language has its own importance but it is very important to have a language which should become the identity of India in the world. If one language can unite the country today, it is the widely-spoken Hindi language."
भारत विभिन्न भाषाओं का देश है और हर भाषा का अपना महत्व है परन्तु पूरे देश की एक भाषा होना अत्यंत आवश्यक है जो विश्व में भारत की पहचान बने। आज देश को एकता की डोर में बाँधने का काम अगर कोई एक भाषा कर सकती है तो वो सर्वाधिक बोले जाने वाली हिंदी भाषा ही है। pic.twitter.com/hrk1ktpDCn
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) September 14, 2019
He further said, "Today, on the occasion of Hindi Diwas, I appeal to all the citizens of the country that we should also start speaking the Hindi language along with our mother tongue, realizing Bapu and Iron Man Sardar Patel's dream of one language that unites the country. Contribute to fulfilling the dream."
आज हिंदी दिवस के अवसर पर मैं देश के सभी नागरिकों से अपील करता हूँ कि हम अपनी-अपनी मातृभाषा के प्रयोग को बढाएं और साथ में हिंदी भाषा का भी प्रयोग कर देश की एक भाषा के पूज्य बापू और लौह पुरूष सरदार पटेल के स्वप्प्न को साकार करने में योगदान दें।
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) September 14, 2019
हिंदी दिवस की हार्दिक शुभकामनाएं
2. Owaisi hits back at Amit Shah's comment
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Hitting back at Amit Shah's comment, All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi tweeted, "Hindi isn't every Indian's "mother tongue". Could you try appreciating the diversity & beauty of the many mother tongues that dot this land? Article 29 gives every Indian the right to a distinct language, script & culture."
Hindi isn't every Indian's "mother tongue". Could you try appreciating the diversity & beauty of the many mother tongues that dot this land? Article 29 gives every Indian the right to a distinct language, script & culture.
— Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) September 14, 2019
India's much bigger than Hindi, Hindu, Hindutva https://t.co/YMVjNlaYry
3. Shiv Sena comes to Amit Shah's defense
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Hitting back at Owaisi's statement criticizing Amit Shah, Shiva Sena issued a statement saying that India has stopped listening to the AIMIM Chief.
The statement also stated, "Hindi is our mother tongue. It is also important to respect local languages. We are proud to be Hindus and speak Hindi."
4. 'Amit Shah's comments dangerous to national unity': DMK leader Stalin
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DMK chief MK Stalin demanded that Home Minister Amit Shah should take back his statement.
"After BJP came to power for the second consecutive time, there has been continuous attacks on the Tamil language. DMK has been waging its protest against Hindi imposition. Amit Shah's remarks have come as a jolt to us. Such comments pose a danger to the unity of the country," DMK chief said.
"We request him to immediately take back his statement. There is an attempt by him to show non-Hindi speaking people as a second-grade citizen. If this is not taken back, DMK will be compelled to prepare itself for the next course of action," he further added.
"If you try to trample other languages and bring out just one, then there is a possibility that people might not accept it. It could create a rift between them," he told ANI.
He further said that the way in which the unity of the country is being jeopardised is "disheartening".
5. 'Unity of the country is being jeopardised': Salman Khurshid
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Senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid slammed Union Home Minister Amit Shah for his "only Hindi can unite the country" remark.
He said to ANI, "If you try to trample other languages and bring out just one, then there is a possibility that people might not accept it. It could create a rift between them," he told ANI.
He further said that the way in which the unity of the country is being jeopardised is "disheartening".
