New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday strongly countered Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s recent suggestion that English speakers might soon “feel ashamed”. In a post in Hindi made on “X” (formerly Twitter), Gandhi termed English as a valuable instrument for social mobility and not a vestige of colonial dominance.
“English is not a dam, it is a bridge. English is not shameful, it is empowering. English is not a chain—it is a tool to break the chains,” he wrote on social media platform, ‘X’. He accused the BJP-RSS of of opposing English education for poor children to suppress their ability to question authority and demand equality.
अंग्रेज़ी बाँध नहीं, पुल है।
अंग्रेज़ी शर्म नहीं, शक्ति है।
अंग्रेज़ी ज़ंजीर नहीं – ज़ंजीरें तोड़ने का औज़ार है।BJP-RSS नहीं चाहते कि भारत का ग़रीब बच्चा अंग्रेज़ी सीखे – क्योंकि वो नहीं चाहते कि आप सवाल पूछें, आगे बढ़ें, बराबरी करें।
आज की दुनिया में, अंग्रेज़ी उतनी ही ज़रूरी… pic.twitter.com/VUjinqD91s
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) June 20, 2025
English as important as mother tongue: Rahul Gandhi
Gandhi emphasised that fluency in English can boost employment prospects and confidence . He called it “as important as one’s mother tongue” in today’s globalised world.
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“Every language of India has soul, culture, knowledge. We have to cherish them—and at the same time teach English to every child,” he added. He urged for a ‘dual-language’ approach that is essential for building India capable of competing globally while granting equal opportunities for all.
Rahul gets support from top Opposition leaders on language question
Gandhi’s post has triggered swift response from other politicans such as Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Derek O’Brien who has highlighted India’s linguistic diversity. TMC’s Sagarika Ghosh also said that English serves as a vital link language with global appeal and should not be a source for shame.
