New Delhi: The Union home ministry’s move seeking to promote official language Hindi in the social media plunged into controversy with the DMK accusing the Centre of imposing the language on non-Hindi speaking sections.
An unrelenting Union minister of state for home Kiren Rijiju however said he will promote use of Hindi in all official work and public life even as his senior Rajnath Singh sought to down play the controversy by saying the Centre will promote all languages of the country. The home minister tweeted, “The Home Ministry is of the view that all Indian languages are important. The Ministry is committed to promote all languages of the country.”
Meanwhile, the MHA on Thursday got a new handle on micro-blogging site Twitter @HMOIndia . The Twitter account was done in conformity with drive to ensure transparent and responsive government.
The move comes in the wake of reports that PM Narendra Modi asked all the ministers in his Cabinet to open Twitter accounts and create Facebook pages to put various policy initiatives and decisions related to governance in the public domain and encourage more discussions on government policies, seeking feedback and suggestions from the general public.
Meanwhile, stirring a fresh controversy, the home ministry’s official language department issued twin circulars, asking all ministries and departments, public sector undertakings and banks to give prominence to Hindi on official accounts in social media.
“...All officers and employees who operate official accounts on Twitter, Facebook, Blogs, Google, Youtube should use Hindi and English languages. Prominence should be given to Hindi,” director, official language, Avadesh Kumar Mishra wrote in the directive.
Another circular announ-ced prize money of Rs 2,000 to two employees who do their official work mostly in Hindi. Rs 1,200 and Rs 600 will be given to the second and third position holders respectively.
Strongly protesting the Centre’s move, DMK chief M. Karunanidhi said it was the beginning of the “imposition of Hindi”.
“Giving priority to Hindi will be construed as a first step towards attempt at creating differences among non-Hindi speaking people and making them second class citizens,” the DMK chief, whose party spearheaded the anti-Hindi agitation in the 1960s, said.
Mr Singh sought to cool down tempers as he tweeted, “The Home Ministry is of the view that all Indian languages are important.”.
Mr Rijiju said the promotion of Hindi language sho-uld not be seen as “undermining” other languages.
