As row over Hindi escalates, EAM S Jaishankar says no language will be imposed

After HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar, now EAM S Jaishankar has sought to allay fears regarding the imposition of Hindi language in the non-Hindi states.

NEW DELHI: External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on Sunday sought to allay fears regarding the imposition of Hindi language in the non-Hindi states in the wake of a proposal made in the draft National Education Policy prepared by the K Kasturirangan Committee.

The Foreign Minister took to Twitter and said, ''The National Education Policy as submitted to the Minister HRD is only a draft report. Feedback shall be obtained from the general public. State Governments will be consulted. Only after this, the draft report will be finalised. The GoI respects all languages. No language will be imposed.''

The National Education Policy as submitted to the Minister HRD is only a draft report. Feedback shall be obtained from general public. State Governments will be consulted. Only after this the draft report will be finalised. GoI respects all languages. No language will be imposed — Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) June 2, 2019

In another tweet in Tamil, Jaishankar said, "It is only after the recommendation of the people, the Union government will take forward the Education Draft policy. The government will promote all Indian languages. There is no intention of the government to impose any language in any part of the country."

மத்திய அரசு மக்களின் கருத்துகளை கேட்டறிந்த பிறகே கல்வி குழுவின் வரைவை முன் எடுத்து செல்லும். அரசு அனைத்து இந்திய மொழிகளையும் வளர்க்கவும் ஊக்குவிக்கவும் எல்லா முயற்சியையும் எடுக்கும். எந்த மொழியையும் யார் மீதும் திணிக்கும் எண்ணம் மத்திய அரசுக்கு இல்லை./1

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) June 2, 2019

The tweet from the EAM came after political parties in Tamil Nadu and a group of academicians and writers in West Bengal warned of a protest if the Centre attempted to thrust Hindi in their respective states.

Education Secretary R Subrahmanyam had also clarified on Saturday that no policy decision has been taken by the Central government yet and there would be no "imposition of any language in educational institutions."

"This is a draft policy submitted by the committee and is placed for the views of the general public. It is not the policy announced by the government. After getting feedback from the general public, and after consulting State governments, the National Educational Policy will be finalised by the government," Subrahmanyam said.

The explanation from the Centre came after top political parties in Tamil Nadu warned of a language war if the Centre attempted to impose Hindi on them. 

Cutting across party lines in Tamil Nadu, the leaders said that the state has a history on the language issue and would not tolerate any imposition. 

Warning the Centre, DMK president MK Stalin had said that the BJP government should not even think in their dreams about the three language policy.

The DMK boss also warned that such "greedy" things will have serious consequences.

Meanwhile, a group of academicians and writers in West Bengal warned the Centre against attempts to thrust Hindi in schools across the state.

Opposing the draft National Education Policy which calls for mandatory teaching of Hindi up to class 8, the Bengali academicians and writers said on Sunday that ''efforts to impose any language would meet with strong protests.''

Dividing states into Hindi speaking and non-Hindi speaking, the Kasturirangan Committee recommends the teaching of Hindi in non-Hindi speaking states in addition to the regional language and English.

In the case of Hindi speaking states, the Committee suggests teaching of Hindi, English and one of the modern Indian languages from other parts of India.

However, it has not specified what the modern Indian language would be. Tamil has been accorded a classical language status by the Central government.

(With Agency Inputs)