Nirmala Sitharaman revives 'debate' on Tamil Nadu's onetime infamous Language Row
"For many years, in the name of opposing ‘Hindi imposition’, there is a practice of not allowing the study of Hindi & Sanskrit in Tamil Nadu," alleged Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman during her intervention on the debate on No Confidence Motion on Aug 10, Thursday.
"It is to an extent that we cannot learn Hindi or Sanskrit even if we wish to,"-
she lamented adding, "You have every right to develop the Tamil Language. But you don’t have the right to prevent those who are willing to learn Hindi or Sanskrit. But you don’t allow us to study Hindi or Sanskrit".
She also said, "They asked us to read Sillapadhikaram. There was an expert by the name Ma. Po. Si (Mayilai Ponnusamy Sivagnanam). He had the title Silambu Selvar. He was an authority of Silappadhikaram. I want to read what he wrote in a magazine, Tamil Murasu in 1951.
I quote Sillappadhikaram “ We are not Dravidians, we are Tamils; Our motherland is Tamilagam and not Dravidam; Its northern boundary is Venkatam and not Vindhya; The Brahmins of Tamil Nadu are not Ariyar, but Tamils.
"While the cultural habits and practices of Tamils are different from those who reside outside Venkatam, they are not opposite to each other”.
In summary, Silappadhikaram says we are not Dravidians but Tamils."
The anti-Hindi sentiment and agitation in Tamil Nadu traces its roots back to the pre-Independence era. In the late 1930s (around 1937) what was then Madras Presidency witnessed protests when the C Rajagopalachari-led Congress government in the state sought to introduce Hindi as a subject in schools.
Critics may say PM using gory days of 1960s to counter '2023 Manipur chaos'
Modi's 1966 Aizawl bombing jibe must have hit Congress hard
New Delhi
The numbers in Lok Sabha were never his problems. Hence the Opposition did not insist for a division while the No Trust motion against Narendra Modi's government was put to vote.
In fact, they staged a walkout in the House while PM's reply to the marathon 3-day long debate was still on.
"Our Prime Minister came out with flying colours in Lok Sabha for the second time in five years after the Congress-sponsored ill-timed and ill-thought of No Confidence Motion was rejected by voice vote," said a senior BJP leader later.
Did the Prime Minister seek to turn the table against Congress by referring to the alleged blunder of the the Indira Gandhi era of 1966?
Even till this day, Mizos observe March 5 as a 'sad day' and call it 'Zoram Ni (meaning Mizoram Day)'. "People of north east are not responsible for the troubles in the region....the politics (of Congress) is responsible for this," the Prime Minister said.
"...On 5th March 1966, Congress had its Air Force attack the helpless citizens in Mizoram. Congress should answer if it was the Air Force of any other country. Were the people of Mizoram not the citizens of my country?," he made an emotional statement during the fag end of his over one-hour long speech.
"....Who was Prime Minister then? Was their security not the responsibility of the Government of India?..." -- the blistering dig must have hit Congress hard.
The one-upmanship game of the Neta class is not over yet as the Manipur situation is expected to figure prominently in Rajya Sabha on Friday - the last day of the Monsoon session.
In what can appear another setback for Congress, by way of a House resolution moved by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhand Joshi, Congress floor leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury's conduct (during PM's reply) was referred to the Privilege Committee.
The Prime Minister urged the people of Manipur ad specially had a message for the women of Manipur that the "entire country stands with them". "We will find a solution to this challenge together and once again peace will be restored there and Manipur will again join the path of development".
"Serious crime against women took place in Manipur and it is unforgivable," he said adding, "The central and state governments are making all possible efforts to ensure strictest punishment to those guilty".
"I want to assure people of the country that peace will be restored and Manipur will move ahead with new self-confidence".
March 5th, 1966 Aizawl bombing in independent India's history has been the only that the powerful Air Force was used to attack "own citizens". It did cleared Aizawl and other cities of the Mizo National Army volunteers. Ironically, incumbent Mizoram CM Zoramthanga is a former MNA militant and was a trusted lieutenant of legendary Mizo leader Laldenga.
Paradoxically till the 1980s, 'official military establishment' ha been denying of any such air attacks in Mizoram. It is said that Protected Progressive Villages (PPVs) were set up. Former military officers say, "Out of around 76o Lushai villages then; a least 515 were evacuated and squeezed into 110 PPVs. Probably 140 Mizo hamlets were left untouched and in Aizawl itself, about 95 percent of the native population was reportedly herded into PPVs".
ends
PM Modi did not feel that he was insulted, his darbaris felt so : 'Suspended' Congress floor leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury
PM Modi did not feel that he was insulted, his courtiers (darbari) felt so and brought this proposal against me. I came to know that (the matter) has been referred to the privilege committee and I have been suspended..." --
Congress floor leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury
Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury suspended from Lok Sabha for ‘unruly’ conduct
Speaking in Lok Sabha on Thursday, Aug 10, during the no-confidence motion debate; Chowdhury compared Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Hindu epic Mahabharata's 'blind king Dhritarashtra'.
He said, “Jab Dhritrashtra andhe the, tab Droupadi ka vastra haran hua tha, aaj bhi raja andhe baithe hai... Manipur aur Hastinapur mein koi farq nahi hai.”
Chowdhury also likened PM Modi to fugitive Nirav Modi.
"...I have not insulted PM Modi. Modi ji speaks on everything but on Manipur issue, he is sitting 'Nirav', which means sitting silent. 'Nirav' means to be silent. My intention was not to insult PM Modi..." - Chowdhury told reporters later.
“Baseless allegation against the Prime Minister cannot be accepted. This should be expunged and he should apologise.” Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah urged the Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to ask Chowdhury to exercise restraint and maintain the decorum of the House.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla later said that Chowdhury's certain remarks had been expunged from the record.
No comments:
Post a Comment