Language has always remained an emotional issue, especially in a state which has seen violent anti-Hindi agitations in the 70s.
Now, the Modi government’s directive to officials on use of Hindi on social media platforms has kicked up a similar row with political parties across the spectrum opposing it.
If DMK patriarch Karunanidhi saw a sinister design in imposing the language on non-Hindi speaking states, AIADMK supremo and Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa argued with facts and cited rules and regulations to demand modification of the home ministry order to ensure use of English language as well.
Referring to the office memoranda issued by the ministry of home affairs, Jayalalithaa said it directed officials to compulsorily use Hindi, or both Hindi and English, with Hindi being written above or first.
“This makes the use of Hindi mandatory and English optional,” Jayalalithaa said taking serious objection to this.
Quoting from the Official Languages Rules 1976, the Tamil Nadu chief minister said communications from a Central government office to a state or Union Territory in region ‘C’ or to any office (not being a Central government office) or person in such state shall be in English.
“In this context, while the office memoranda have been primarily made applicable to government of India officers and offices located in “Region A,” social media by their very nature are not only accessible to all persons on the internet but meant to be a means of communication to persons living in all parts of India including those in Region C,” she said.
