Venkaiah Naidu said Hindi language is the identity of the Indians.

Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu may have just stoked fresh controversy over use of Hindi language. Venkaiah Naidu today said Hindi language is the identity of the Indians.

"(Hindi) Hamari matribhasha hamari pehchan hai. Hamein ispe garv karna chahiye (Hindi is out mother tongue, our identity. We should be proud of it)," Venkaiah Naidu said.

Venkaiah Naidu termed widespread use of English language in our work and daily life as detrimental to the progress of the nation. He said, "Angrezi seekhte seekhte hum angrezi mind mein bhi aa gaye hain. Ye desh ke hit mein nahi hai (While learning English, we have trained our minds like English people. This is not in the interests of the nation)."

PAST CONNECTION

Earlier in April, Venkaiah Naidu had defended a move by the Parliamentary Committee on Official Language proposing to make use of Hindi mandatory both in speech and writing for MPs and Union ministers, who could read and write the language.

DMK leader MK Stalin had criticised the Narendra Modi government for trying to impose Hindi on non-Hindi speaking people and states.

Venkaiah Naidu had said that the Centre was only 'promoting' not 'imposing' Hindi on anyone.

WHAT IS AT CORE?

Venkaiah Naidu had then said that the latest notification on use of Hindi language was based on the recommendation of the Parliamentary Committee headed by the then home minister and Congress leader P Chidambaram in 2011.

The parliamentary panel had recommended the use of Hindi by parliamentarians and ministers. The recommendation had been sent to the President in June, 2011.

The Narendra Modi government notified the recommendation of the parliamentary panel on March 31 this year after President Pranab Mukherjee gave his nod to the suggestion.

Also Read:

DMK doesn't oppose Hindi, it's only against its imposition: Kanimozhi

BJP govt destroying nation's unity by imposing Hindi on non-speakers, says MK Stalin

WATCH | Hindi is our identity, widespread use of English not in interest of nation: Venkaiah Naidu