Kerala Law Minister P Rajeev on Language Debate
In New Delhi, Kerala Law Minister P Rajeev addressed the ongoing language debate between South Indian MPs and Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu. He emphasized that India does not have a national language according to the Constitution. Communication between the Union and state governments should be in English unless both parties agree to use another language.
Rajeev recalled an incident where a former Union Minister wrote to Kerala’s Chief Minister in Hindi, prompting a response in Malayalam. He stated that imposing Hindi nationwide under the ‘one nation one language’ idea is unconstitutional. He also mentioned that if a bill is moved in a regional language, it must be translated for the Governor’s approval before being introduced in the legislature.
This issue arose after CPI(M) MP John Brittas accused Minister Bittu of sending letters in Hindi to South Indian MPs. Brittas responded in Malayalam as a protest, urging respect for regional sentiments. He claimed there is a deliberate attempt to impose Hindi on South Indian states and emphasized the importance of responding in their own languages.
Doubts Revealed
Kerala -: Kerala is a state in the southern part of India, known for its beautiful backwaters, beaches, and rich culture.
Law Minister -: A Law Minister is a government official responsible for legal affairs and the justice system in a state or country.
P Rajeev -: P Rajeev is a politician from Kerala who serves as the Law Minister of the state.
Union Minister -: A Union Minister is a member of the central government in India, responsible for specific departments or ministries.
Ravneet Singh Bittu -: Ravneet Singh Bittu is a politician and a Union Minister in the Indian government.
National language -: A national language is a language that is given a special legal status in a country. India does not have a national language, but Hindi and English are official languages.
Unconstitutional -: Unconstitutional means something that is not allowed by the constitution, which is the set of rules that guides how a country is governed.
CPI(M) -: CPI(M) stands for the Communist Party of India (Marxist), a political party in India.
MP -: MP stands for Member of Parliament, a person elected to represent people in the Parliament of India.
John Brittas -: John Brittas is a Member of Parliament from Kerala, representing the CPI(M) party.
Malayalam -: Malayalam is the language spoken in Kerala, and it is one of the 22 scheduled languages of India.