Tripura CM Biplab Kumar Deb on Monday claimed that those who oppose Hindi as the national language of India, do not love the country. He made the controversial statement while speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Regional Cancer Centre in Agartala. 

“The people who are opposing Hindi as the national language are those who have no love for the country. I am supporting Hindi as the national language as most of the people of our country speak Hindi. Had the Britishers not ruled India for 200 years, there would have been no use of English in official works in the country,” the CM said.

The comment came in the backdrop of Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s speech on Hindi Diwas in which he advocated Hindi as the national language of India. “Due to loyalty to the colonial rule, English became a status symbol for many people,” Deb added. 

“It is not that only English speaking nations progress. Had it been the case, countries such as Germany, China, Japan, Russia and Israel would have not developed,” the CM Deb said. The CM also asked the government officers to assist people in official works, who do not understand English and can speak only regional languages.

“I have seen that if anyone comes for any help in government offices and speak in Bengali or Kokborok, officials take time to help them. But as soon as you request him in English, they do it quickly. This should not be done,” the CM said.

India has 780 languages which is the second-highest in the world after Papua De Guinea. The eighth schedule of the Indian Constitution has a list of 22 languages which are known as the official languages of India. As for Hindi and English, the Official Languages Act, 1963 allows the two languages to be used in the Indian government until legislation decides to change it. As of today, the constitution doesn’t allow the ‘national language’ status to any language in India.

Also Read: Amit Shah Faces Brickbats For Raising ‘Hindi As National Language’ Pitch