DMK Postpones September 20 Protests After Amit Shah Clarifies 'Hindi' Remarks

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), which announced demonstrations across Tamil Nadu against Amit Shah's pitch for Hindi as a common language on September 20, has postponed the same, moments after the union home minister issued a clarification over his Hindi Diwas remark. The party, however, has vowed to continue its protest against Hindi imposition all the time.

"Our statewide protest against imposition of Hindi has been postponed after Union Minister Amit Shah has given his clarification on the matter. DMK we will continue to oppose Hindi imposition," media quoted DMK chief MK Stalin as saying in Chennai.

DMK President MK Stalin: Our statewide protest against imposition of Hindi has been postponed after Union Minister Amit Shah has given his clarification on the matter. DMK we will continue to oppose Hindi imposition. pic.twitter.com/vDdJToQAqQ

— ANI (@ANI) September 18, 2019

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Upping the ante against Centre's Hindi Imposition, Stalin on Monday said his party's agitation was the first phase of protest on the issue and the further course of action will be decided on the basis of central government's response and consultations with like-minded parties.

The agitation was to nip in the bud the "adverse effects of Hindi imposition on mother Tamil and the mother tongue of people of other (non-Hindi speaking) states", a resolution adopted at a party meet said.

In his Hindi Diwas statement, Shah said it was Hindi which is spoken the most and can unite the country. "While diversity in languages is India's strength, a national language is needed so that foreign languages and cultures do not overpower the country's own," he added.

With protest voices raising across the country, especially in South, the union minister on Wednesday clarified his stand on the matter, saying that he has never asked to impose Hindi over other regional languages, but requsted to learn Hindi as the second language after one's mother tongue.

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"I myself come from a non-Hindi state of Gujarat. If some people want to do politics, its their choice," amid mixed reactions over Centre's Hindi pitch from across the country.

Apart from Tamil Nadu, protests were also witnessed in several other parts of the country, including some BJP governed states like Karnataka. Political parties which opposed Shah's Hindi remarks also include Congress, CPIM, Trinamool Congress, JDS, and even BJP ally AIADMK.