Congress Stages Protest in Agartala Ahead of Amit Shah's Language Conference Address
Just ahead of Union Home Minister Amit Shah's scheduled address at the North Eastern and Northern Regions Joint Regional Rajbhasha Sammelan on Friday in Agartala, the opposition Congress party organized a significant protest in the city. The demonstration was strategically timed to coincide with the eve of International Mother Language Day, highlighting the sensitive nature of language politics in India.
Allegations of Unconstitutional Language Policy
Congress spokesperson Prabir Chakraborty articulated the party's stance, alleging that the home minister's visit is part of a broader agenda to enforce Hindi at the expense of regional languages. He termed this approach as both unconstitutional and unacceptable, emphasizing that India's Constitution recognizes 22 official languages, including Hindi. Chakraborty warned that privileging one language over others violates the constitutional spirit and undermines linguistic diversity.
Chakraborty further linked recent remarks by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on infiltration and linguistic identity to what he described as a wider strategy to elevate Hindi above other recognized languages.Criticism of State Government's Neglect
The protest also accused the state government of neglecting Bengali and Kokborok, the latter being widely spoken among Tripura's indigenous communities. Chakraborty pointed to economic distress and rising unemployment in the region, holding Bhagwat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah responsible for these issues. He asserted that Congress would continue its agitation against any policy that marginalizes or undermines regional languages, vowing to protect linguistic rights.
This event marks a significant moment in the political landscape of Tripura, as opposition forces rally against perceived centralization efforts in language policy. The Congress party's actions reflect broader concerns about cultural preservation and constitutional adherence in the face of nationalistic agendas.
