The party's national leaders who address rallies in TN are forced to speak in English to get their message across.
Chennai: In a clever spin, the saffron party is floating the argument that the staunch opposition in Tamil Nadu to Hindi is not good for the State. Such opposition does nothing when it comes to development of the region or seeking employment beyond the borders, its leaders say.
BJP leaders do not miss any opportunity on their tours of Tamil Nadu to justify Hindi or Sanskrit, claiming these languages are not being fostered at the cost of any regional language. Though the party would like to give the impression that Hindi is not being imposed, it is only in Tamil Nadu that the BJP is facing much resistance.
The party's national leaders who address rallies in TN are forced to speak in English to get their message across. In certain instances when they chose to speak or switch over to Hindi, there was always a translator at hand. One leader justified the use of Hindi language on signages saying it helped guide those coming from other parts of the country. This, he argues, should not be seen as Hindi imposition.
Signages, apart, the saffron party here claims that the language politics played by parties such as DMK, PMK and MDMK has cost the state very dearly. “Tamil Nadu's opposition to Hindi has not helped in the cause of promoting Tamil at all,” said BJP M.P.L. Ganesan.
On a visit to Pudukottai in the State on Sunday, Mr Ganesan said neighbouring states such as Andhra Pradesh and Kerala prospered because they had not opposed Hindi. "Due to the mindless opposition to Hindi language in Tamil Nadu, neither Hindi nor Tamil had prospered in the state," Mr Ganesan said.
“I want Tamils to learn Tamil, Telugus to learn Telugu, Keralaiites to learn Malayalam. We should not ignore our mother tongue. But learning Hindi helps us to communicate better with our countrymen and assists us when we seek employment opportunities,” said BJP leader M. Venkaiah Naidu, who had participated in anti-Hindi agitation in Nellore in his younger days.
