‘Respect all languages, cultures equally’: Mamata Banerjee responds to Amit Shah's appeal for Hindi as national language

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday said people should respect all languages and cultures equally but not at the cost of their mother tongues

Press Trust of India September 14, 2019 17:09:49 IST
‘Respect all languages, cultures equally’: Mamata Banerjee responds to Amit Shah's appeal for Hindi as national language
  • West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday said people should respect all languages and cultures equally but not at the cost of their mother tongues

  • Her statement came after Home Minister Amit Shah pitched for a common language for the country and said it is Hindi which is spoken the most and can unite the whole country

  • In a series of tweets in Hindi, Shah said, 'India has many languages and every language has its importance. But it is absolutely necessary that the entire country should have one language that becomes India's identity internationally'

Kolkata: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday said people should respect all languages and cultures equally but not at the cost of their mother tongues. Her statement came after Home Minister Amit Shah pitched for a common language for the country and said it is Hindi which is spoken the most and can unite the whole country.

Respect all languages cultures equally Mamata Banerjee responds to Amit Shahs appeal for Hindi as national language

File image of West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee. PTI

Greeting people on the occasion of Hindi Divas, Banerjee tweeted, "My best wishes to all on #HindiDiwas. We should respect all languages and cultures equally. We may learn many languages but we should never forget our mother-language." She also posted the greetings in another tweet in Hindi.

In a series of tweets in Hindi, Shah said, "India has many languages and every language has its importance. But it is absolutely necessary that the entire country should have one language that becomes India's identity internationally".

Shah said if any language can unite the country, it is Hindi that is spoken the most. "I want to appeal to people to promote their native languages but also use Hindi to make the dream of Bapu (Mahatma Gandhi) and Sardar (Vallabhbhai) Patel of one language come true," he tweeted.

Later, speaking at a Hindi Divas function in New Delhi, Shah said Hindi should reach every individual and every home in the country. Hindi Divas is observed to mark the decision of the Constituent Assembly to extend official language status to Hindi on this day in 1949. It was first observed in 1953.

Updated Date:

also read

Hands of Gold: PM Modi to honour 60,000 workers who built new Parliament building
India

Hands of Gold: PM Modi to honour 60,000 workers who built new Parliament building

Amit Shah announced reintroduction of Sengol (scepter) a ‘historical’ symbol of India's Independence as it signifies the transfer of power from the British to Indians

Manipur Violence: BJP delegation to meet Amit Shah today amid fresh violence
India

Manipur Violence: BJP delegation to meet Amit Shah today amid fresh violence

Violent clashes broke out in the state after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the 10 hill districts on May 3 to protest against the Meitei community's demand for the Scheduled Tribe status.

WATCH: Mamata Banerjee, Rail Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw disagree over Odisha train accident death toll
India

WATCH: Mamata Banerjee, Rail Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw disagree over Odisha train accident death toll

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, while addressing the press with the rail minister at Balasore, said, 'I heard that the death toll might even cross the 500 mark'