Though they are dismissing it as a rumour, DMK’s track record has always been anti-Hindi. A day back, the entire mainstream media was seen flashing news about the Tamil Nadu government coming up with an anti-Hindi legislation. Even Tamil Nadu politicians were seen coming up with reactions to the development.
If true, then what made the DMK government in Tamil Nadu contemplate bringing in legislation to prohibit Hindi hoardings and Hindi language films in the state & subsequently withdraw the decision within twenty-four hours? One certainly needs to read between the lines.
Stalin’s DMK-led government in Tamil Nadu, which has Congress as a key partner, has been spewing venom against Hindi for a long time. The party is known for its anti-Hindi campaign historically. And thus the legislation, which is now being refuted by DMK was on expected lines. DMK has been running a calculated campaign against Hindi in Tamil Nadu for past several months, eyeing assembly elections slated to take place in this southern state next year. But after the entire national media and regional media in Tamil Nadu highlighted the development in the afternoon. By evening, the news came that it has been withdrawn. Subsequently, a news got circulated that the fact-check unit of the Tamil Nadu has ruled out any such development, calling it a rumour.
But then speculations are rife that DMK had come on the back foot due to the ongoing Bihar elections. As the INDI alliance think tank knew that any step against Hindi would be counterproductive at this stage, particularly when campaigning in Bihar is at its peak.
It would also have brought INDI alliance in Bihar on a backfoot, particularly when a month back DMK supremo Stalin was in Bihar, hecticly campaigning for Congress, RJD and other INDI alliance members. MK Stalin was there, seen flanked by Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav.
Even political pundits were surprised as to how Stalin, who usually never goes out of his state to campaign for elections in other parts of the country, found it appropriate to come to a northern state, that too in the Hindi belt and actively campaign for the Cong & RJD.
One knows how the Karunanidhi family, from MK Stalin to Udhayanidhi, has abused Hindi and Sanatan Dharma. Hindi is very close to the hearts of people of Bihar, who have given some finest Hindi luminaries to the country. The inhabitants of Bihar are also very sensitive towards Sanatan Dharma, and that is the reason when Udhaynidhi, son of Stalin, spoke badly about Sanatan, Bihar was among the few states in the country where a case was registered against him. A case was registered against him in Bhojpur over Udhayanidhi’s eradicate Sanata Dharm remark.
One very well remembers, even during initial INDI alliance meetings, when the bloc was taking shape, it was Bihar which stood against anti-Hindi mindset of DMK leaders. In one of such meetings in December 2023, DMK leaders MK Stalin and TR Baalu categorically requested an English translation of a speech being given in Hindi by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who was then part of the alliance. This miffed Nitish Kumar so much that he asked both to learn Hindi & denied them any translation.
Senior BJP leader K Annamalai today wrote on X, asserting that DMK’s anti-Hindi legislator was not a rumour but was a premeditated step. He pointed out that the DMK functionaries in Pollachi yesterday burned Hindi letters in celebration after learning of the bill that was to be tabled in the assembly. Thus, the theory that DMK had such anti-Hindi plans could be true and holds much ground.
But then will the Hindi heartland state of Bihar tolerate this disrespect to Hindi & Sanatana? Will Congress question Mr Stalin as to why he hates Hindi so much ? The grand old party that invited Stalin to Bihar with an assumption that he would swing votes in INDI Alliance favour must answer.
