Tue Nov 19 11:18:14 UTC 2024: **Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Condemns LIC’s Hindi-Only Website**

Chennai, India – Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has strongly criticized the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) for making its website primarily Hindi, calling it a “propaganda tool for Hindi imposition” and demanding an immediate reversal of the policy. The move sparked outrage, with Mr. Stalin highlighting on X (formerly Twitter) that even the option to select English is displayed in Hindi.

This action is not an isolated incident. Dr. S. Ramadoss of the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) echoed these concerns, stating that LIC, a company serving customers across India, should not prioritize Hindi at the expense of other languages. He pointed out the absurdity of a situation where consumer goods sold in Tamil Nadu have Tamil or English labeling but LIC’s website defaults to Hindi.

This latest controversy follows a pattern of tensions between Tamil Nadu and the central government over language policy. Mr. Stalin previously questioned Governor R.N. Ravi regarding the omission of a line from the state anthem and accused the Governor of attempting to impose Hindi. The state has a long history of opposing Hindi imposition, dating back to the 1960s. Ongoing resistance also includes opposition to the three-language formula in the new education policy, which is seen as a push for Hindi adoption.

Even BJP’s Tamil Nadu Vice President Narayanan Thirupathy voiced support for English as the default language on the LIC website, urging a change to allow users to choose Hindi as an option rather than the current Hindi-only default.

This incident follows a similar controversy last year when a directive to rename curd packets “Dahi” (Hindi) led to a significant backlash from Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister and milk producers. The current situation underscores the ongoing sensitivity surrounding language issues and the perceived attempts to impose Hindi in non-Hindi speaking states.

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