Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav’s demand to ban the use of English in Parliament on Monday led the TMC to term it as disturbing even as the BJP said Hindi should be learnt by everyone, but not by eliminating the English language.
TMC leader Derek O’Brien said, “Mulayam Singh’s remarks are disturbing. We believe that all languages should be loved and encouraged. English is the language, which the youth are looking up to. It is an important language. We believe you should love and encourage all languages and dialects,” Brien said.
While underscoring the need for everyone to learn Hindi, BJP leader Balbir Punj said there are other vital issues of concern that needed to be raised and addressed at this time. “Any issue raised besides security of the nation and people, only indicates diversion from the questions being posed at them. Mulayam Singh should understand there is no issue about English or Hindi language. Everyone should learn Hindi, but that does not mean English should be removed,’ Punj said.
“In which school did Mulayam Singh’s children and grandchildren studyIJ Are they in an English medium school or a Hindi mediumIJ” he questioned. Union Minister Shashi Tharoor also suggested that Mulayam should not seek a ban on English in Parliament as his son Akhilesh has studied in an English-medium school. “In the 21st century, most Indians want their children to have a good working knowledge of English to improve their prospects,” Tharoor said.
Janata Dal (United) leader KC Tyagi said leaders from Hindi heartland must speak in Hindi. “leaders from the Hindi heartland speak in Hindi in their respective constituency but speak in English in Parliament. This is political dishonesty. leaders from the Hindi heartland must speak in Hindi,” Tyagi said.
Mulayam had sought a ban on the use of English language in Parliament while addressing a function held by Hindi Sewa Trust in Etawah on Saturday evening. “When MPs ask for vote, they do so in Hindi, but address Parliament in English. This should stop,” Mulayam had said. “There should be a ban on English address in Parliament. Countries, which use their mother tongue, are more developed. It is the need of the hour to promote Hindi,” the SP supremo had said.