Chennai: Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai supported former cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin’s statement on Friday, saying that “Hindi is not the national language of the country, but an official language.”
“Correct. It is not our national language which Annamalai is also telling you. Not only my dear friend Ashwin has to say that…It is not the national language. It was a link language, it is a language of convenience,” ANI quoted the BJP leader as saying.
Students choose Tamil over English
At a convocation event at a private college in Chennai, Ashwin asked the students which language they preferred for his address. While some opted for English, a majority showed enthusiasm for Tamil, with no one choosing Hindi. Although a few students preferred English, there was overwhelming support for Tamil when Ashwin offered to address them in that language, while Hindi did not receive any support.
“Hindi — no response. I thought I will say it (Hindi) is not our national language, but an official language,” PTI quoted the former all-rounder, who retired in the middle of the Test series in Australia last December, as saying.
Annamalai’s opposition to Hindi
In 2022, the BJP’s Tamil Nadu unit, led by Annamalai, said that it would never permit the “imposition of Hindi” in the state. “The party’s definite stand is that Hindi imposition will not be allowed in Tamil Nadu,” Annamalai had told reporters in Coimbatore.
“It is fine for people to learn Hindi voluntarily. I’m also learning Hindi voluntarily to be able to converse in Delhi. I have an online tuition master to teach me. But if I’m instructed to study, even I won’t learn. Everyone is like that. So, the BJP will not allow Hindi being forced on anyone in Tamil Nadu,” he had said.
