Chennai | Superstar Rajinikanth has joined the wave of criticism against Home Minister Amit Shah’s Hindi imposition and said that no southern state will ever support.
“A common language not just for India but any country is good for its unity and progress. Unfortunately, (one cannot) bring a common language in our country. So you cannot impose any language,” Rajinikanth told reporters in Tamil at the airport in Chennai.
“Especially, if you impose Hindi, not just Tamil Nadu, no southern state will accept that. Many states in northern parts will also not accept that,” he added.
“Hindi language should not be imposed. Not just Tamil Nadu, none of the southern states will accept Hindi imposition.
Earlier, Makkal Needhi Maiam leader and actor Kamal Haasan warned of an “exponentially bigger battle” than the 2017 pro-Jallikattu protests against “imposition” of the language.
“Now, no Shah, Sultan or Samrat must renege on that promise. We respect all languages, but our mother language will always be Tamil,” he said in a video.
Also Read: “No Shah, or Sultan..”, Kamala Haasan digs at Home Minister Amit Shah
Amit Shah’s statements on Hindi becoming a unifying language for all Indians has been seen by many as an attempt by the centre to impose Hindi on non-Hindi speaking states, reviving the decades-old uniformity versus diversity debate.
On Hindi Diwas, Amit Shah had proposed to make the Hindi language for “One Nation, One language”.
“India is a country of many different languages, and each language has its own significance, but it is necessary to have a common language that becomes the mark of India’s identity globally… Today, if there is one language that has the ability to string the nation together in unity, it is the Hindi language which is the most widely-spoken and understood language in India.”
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