New Delhi: Amidst growing opposition against the imposition of Hindi language especially in the Southern states, Andhra Pradesh MP Margani Bharat Ram has come up in support of declaring Hindi as the National Language.
Ahead of the planned 'Hindi Diwas' celebrations on September 14, the East Godavari MP has claimed that Prime Minister is trying his best to mark Hindi as the national language.
I support Hindi as the national langauge: YRSCP MP "I hope that Hindi comes up as a national language in the near future," Margani Bharat Ram said.
Speaking to ETV Bharat, the first-time MP said that mother tongue should be promoted and only then the government should focus on implementing Hindi across the nation.
"They should respect regional languages before implementing One Nation One Langauge theory," he said.
Margani Bharat, the YSRCP MP, was present as the chief guest at an event on Hindi Diwas organised by National Monuments Authority in the national capital.
Hindi Divas is an annual event celebrated on 14 September in India to celebrate the popularity of Hindi as an 'official language' of India.
K Kasturirangan Committee in its Draft National Education Policy had pitched for implementation of three language formula in schools across the country, recommending Hindi as one of the compulsory subjects for the students of non-Hindi speaking states. This lead to huge protests from the southern states, particularly Tamil Nadu.
This was construed by many as an attempt to impose Hindi on students in non-Hindi states, which led to an uproar all across Tamil Nadu. Politicians vehemently stood against the move, warning of a looming language war. This provision in the draft policy led to strong protests across Tamil Nadu. Similar demonstrations were witnessed in West Bengal, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Kerala.
The protests were so intense that even after Union Ministers Nirmala Sitaraman and Jai Shanker, both natives of Tamil Nadu, tried to explain to the people that it was just a draft policy and the final policy would be brought into effect only after taking into consideration the suggestions from the State government and the people.
Following the row, the Centre tried to make amends, deleting the controversial clause. The three-language policy would remain intact, but Hindi would not be imposed.
Read: The controversial language formula
