Chennai: DMK Working President MK Stalin on Friday threatened that his party will launch a massive agitation against Hindi signs on National Highways, alleging that the BJP-led government at the Centre was bringing "Hindi hegemony" through the backdoor in Tamil Nadu.
The call for an agitation came after reports emerged that English signs on National Highway milestones in Krishnagiri, and Vellore in Tamil Nadu, were being replaced with Hindi signs.
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.
If BJP govt tries to prioritize Hindi & give less importance to Tamil language then a new movement against Hindi could start: MK Stalin, DMK pic.twitter.com/QRbxm3CNNY— ANI (@ANI_news) March 31, 2017
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.
Picture credits: Stalin's Facebook page.
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."
Tamil Nadu had witnessed massive protests against "Hindi imposition," during the 1960s.
DMK spokesperson Sarvanan said: "We feel that it is an indirect attempt to impose Hindi in the state of Tamil Nadu. We aren't against Hindi but we are against the fact that the government want to replace Tamil signage with Hindi."
Meanwhile, BJP leader Tamilisai strongly condemned the issue. "I strongly condemn the way DMK is trying to politicising the issue," she said.
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