BENGALURU: Controversy surrounding a Union government official addressing a virtual national ayurveda meeting only in Hindi has created furore in the southern states.
In Karnataka, the Congress and the JD(S) have urged the Centre to take action against Ayush ministry secretary Rajesh Kotecha, who allegedly said those “participants who cannot speak Hindi can leave” the meeting.
In a letter to Ayush minister of state Shripad Yesso Naik, Congress parliamentarian GC Chandrashekar on Monday asked the Centre to replace Kotecha with an officer who “values everyone’s contributions”.
“We expect the ministry to respond in a day or two, hopefully expressing regret,” said Chandrashekar, a member of the Rajya Sabha.
On Monday, former CM HD Kumaraswamy said how many people wellversed in many languages would have to make sacrifices in the country for not being able to speak in Hindi. “I don’t speak English very well. Is it a request to not speak English or Hindi should be imposed,” he tweeted.
Ex-CM tells Centre to initiate action
Urging the Centre to take action against Kotecha, the former CM said, “Every language here is part of the Union system. Is it not, therefore, a violation of the Union code to quit the training programme for reasons not to speak Hindi? Is this not anti-constitutional?”
DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi wrote to the minister, urging him to inquire into the incident of ‘Hindi imposition’ during the event conducted by his ministry and take action against officials who have acted in a manner “discriminating our fellow citizens on the basis of language”.
In Karnataka, the Congress and the JD(S) have urged the Centre to take action against Ayush ministry secretary Rajesh Kotecha, who allegedly said those “participants who cannot speak Hindi can leave” the meeting.
In a letter to Ayush minister of state Shripad Yesso Naik, Congress parliamentarian GC Chandrashekar on Monday asked the Centre to replace Kotecha with an officer who “values everyone’s contributions”.
“We expect the ministry to respond in a day or two, hopefully expressing regret,” said Chandrashekar, a member of the Rajya Sabha.
On Monday, former CM HD Kumaraswamy said how many people wellversed in many languages would have to make sacrifices in the country for not being able to speak in Hindi. “I don’t speak English very well. Is it a request to not speak English or Hindi should be imposed,” he tweeted.
Ex-CM tells Centre to initiate action
Urging the Centre to take action against Kotecha, the former CM said, “Every language here is part of the Union system. Is it not, therefore, a violation of the Union code to quit the training programme for reasons not to speak Hindi? Is this not anti-constitutional?”
DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi wrote to the minister, urging him to inquire into the incident of ‘Hindi imposition’ during the event conducted by his ministry and take action against officials who have acted in a manner “discriminating our fellow citizens on the basis of language”.
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