Sat Mar 29 16:30:01 UTC 2025: **Rajnath Singh Advocates Linguistic Unity Amidst Hindi-Tamil Debate**
NEW DELHI (March 29, 2025) – Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday stressed the importance of linguistic unity in India, urging against any attempts to divide the nation based on language. His comments come amidst ongoing tensions between the Tamil Nadu government and the central government over the three-language formula in the New Education Policy.
Speaking at a theatrical tribute to Rani Velu Nachiyar, organized by the BJP’s women’s wing, Singh emphasized that Hindi and all Indian languages mutually strengthen each other. He expressed concern over Tamil Nadu’s prioritization of opposition to Hindi over ensuring Tamil-language education in crucial fields like medicine and engineering. He asserted that the BJP’s approach is positive and aims to benefit all.
Singh highlighted the Modi government’s initiatives, such as the Kashi Tamil Sangamam, as examples of celebrating India’s linguistic and cultural diversity. He stated that promoting one language should never come at the expense of another. He further lauded Rani Velu Nachiyar as a symbol of courage and patriotism, and acknowledged the contributions of other prominent women freedom fighters.
The Minister’s statements appear to be a direct response to the controversy surrounding the three-language policy, which the DMK government in Tamil Nadu perceives as an attempt to impose Hindi. Data suggests that over 90% of people in Hindi-speaking states are monolingual, while the rest of India exhibits greater bilingualism.
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