New Delhi: A fiery exchange erupted in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday when DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran questioned the inclusion of Sanskrit in the simultaneous interpretation of parliamentary proceedings. Maran criticised the allocation of resources for Sanskrit translation, deeming it a wasteful expenditure driven by the “RSS ideology.”
During Question Hour, Maran raised objections to the Sanskrit interpretation, arguing that it was “not communicable” and citing the 2011 Census data, which recorded a limited number of Sanskrit speakers. He directly questioned the rationale behind the expenditure, linking it to the Speaker’s perceived adherence to the RSS ideology.
“Can you tell me which state’s official language is Sanskrit? Why are you wasting taxpayers’ money when the language is not even communicable … the population survey in 2011 said that only 73,000 people speak Sanskrit. Why is taxpayer money being wasted because of your RSS ideology?” he challenged.
Speaker Birla responded firmly, reminding Maran of Sanskrit’s historical significance as an original language of India (Bharat). He emphasized that the Parliament recognizes 22 languages, and Sanskrit is rightfully among them. He questioned Maran’s selective objection to Sanskrit, highlighting the availability of interpretation in all recognised languages, including Hindi.
“Respected member, which country are you living in? This is Bharat. Bharat’s original language has always been Sanskrit. And that’s why, we mentioned 22 languages, not just Sanskrit. Why did you raise objections just for Sanskrit? There are 22 languages in India that are recognised in Parliament. The debates will happen in any of those 22 languages, including Sanskrit and Hindi,” he said.
Maran’s objection aligns with the DMK’s broader stance against the three-language policy advocated by the National Education Policy. He previously stated that the MK Stalin government in Tamil Nadu would resist its implementation.
