CM Stalin sees New India Assurance Hindi circular as a disrespect to Tamilians

Chennai: Seeing a circular in Hindi by insurance firm New India Assurance as an attempt to impose Hindi on the people of non-Hindi speaking states like Tamil Nadu, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin demanded an immediate withdrawal of the circular.

The Chief Minister also sought an apology from the chairperson of the insurance firm, Neerja Kapoor, "for the disrespect shown towards non-Hindi speaking employees of New India Assurance".

"We pay our taxes, contribute to the progress of the country, and believe in our rich heritage and this nation's diversity. Our languages deserve to be treated equally. We will resist any attempt to replace Tamil with Hindi in our land”, Stalin said.

"Gone are the days of non-Hindi speaking citizens of India tolerating second-class treatment meted out to them, despite their contribution to propelling India's growth with their hard work and talent," he added.

Stalin further said, "Tamil Nadu and DMK would do everything under our power to stop Hindi imposition".

"We will remove the undeserving special status that Hindi enjoys everywhere in the Union government, Railways, Postal Department, banking, and Parliament that affects us and our people on a day-to-day basis," he added.

Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu and Kerala have already voiced against the imposition of Hindi on other language speakers.

Tamil Nadu has had a long history of agitations against “Hindi imposition”. In August 1937, the regime headed by C. Rajagopalachari decided to make Hindi compulsory in secondary schools. E.V. Ramasamy had spearheaded an agitation against the move, marking the first such stir. In January 1965, the second round of agitations erupted in the wake of Hindi becoming the official language on which, leaders, starting from Jawaharlal Nehru in the mid-1950s, assured the people of Tamil Nadu that there would be no “imposition” of Hindi.

With inputs from IANS