Markings on milestones in English being replaced by Hindi in TN: Stalin

Chennai: DMK working president MK Stalin today alleged that markings on milestones in English were being replaced with Hindi in Tamil Nadu and warned the Centre against the move.

He said on National Highways in Vellore and Krishnagiri districts, the alleged changes were being effected.

"This shows bringing Hindi hegemony through the backdoor in Tamil Nadu," he said in a statement, adding, it showed the

BJP-led Centre did not respect the sentiments of Tamils. He accused the BJP regime of devoting "great attention," in "thrusting" Sanskrit and Hindi ever since it assumed power at the Centre.

Recalling the assurance of former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru that English will continue to be in use till such time non-Hindi speaking people wanted it, he said the

Centre should give up "imposing Hindi" and halt replacing English signage with Hindi.

He said the Centre should treat equally all the languages listed in the Eight Schedule to the Constitution.

If the Centre chose to favour only Hindi at the expense of other languages, particularly Tamil, he said "I would like to warn the Centre that it will have to face a new anti-Hindi agitation."

MDMK chief Vaiko too had opposed the move. Tamil Nadu had witnessed massive protests against "Hindi imposition," during the 1960s.