Union Home Minister Amit Shah, on 21 March 2025, criticized the ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu, accusing the party of fueling linguistic divisions to divert attention from corruption allegations. Speaking in the Rajya Sabha during a discussion on the Home Ministry’s functioning, Shah alleged that the DMK was intentionally creating controversy over language issues to serve its political interests.
“They exploit language-related sentiments to mask their corruption. Every language in India is a precious jewel. Are they suggesting that we oppose the languages of the South? Those engaging in politics over language have their own hidden agenda,” Shah stated.
The Home Minister further alleged that the DMK was fostering linguistic divisions in the country. He emphasized the central government’s commitment to promoting all regional languages through the newly established Indian Languages Section under the Department of Official Language. To counter attempts to create discord over language, he stated that the government has launched this initiative to strengthen the use of regional languages, ensuring that official communication will be conducted in the respective languages of the people.
He said, “I would like to say something so that those who divide the country in the name of language do not get their agenda. Under the Department of Official Language, Narendra Modi Govt has set up Indian Languages Section which will work to enhance the usage of all Indian languages – Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, Gujarati, Punjabi, Assamese, Bengali, all languages. After December, I will have written correspondence with citizens, CMs, Ministers and MPs in their own language. This is a strong reply to those who run their shops in the name of language to hide their corruption…What are they saying? That we oppose languages of the south? How can this be possible?…I come from Guajrat, Nirmala Sitharanan from Tamil Nadu. How can we oppose this? What are you saying? We have worked for languages.”
Referring to Tamil Nadu’s stance on education in regional languages, Shah challenged the state government, stating, “I would like to tell Tamil Nadu Government – we have been saying for two years that you do not have the courage to translate medical and engineering study material into Tamil…You cannot do this. When an NDA govt comes to power (in Tamil Nadu), we will provide medical and engineering course in Tamil, in Tamil Nadu.”
Taking a swipe at DMK’s language politics, he added, “I would like to tell those who spread poison in the name of language that you like languages from thousands of kilometres away but you do not language of India…I have said this again and again Hindi has no competition with any other Indian language. Hindi is a friend of all Indian languages, all Indian languages strengthen from Hindi and Hindi strengthens from all Indian languages.”
#WATCH | In Rajya Sabha, HM Amit Shah says, "…I would like to say something so that those who divide the country in the name of language do not get their agenda. Under the Department of Official Language, Narendra Modi Govt has set up Indian Languages Section which will work to… pic.twitter.com/XKCPweIhDm
— ANI (@ANI) March 21, 2025
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