It’s important to learn ‘rashtra bhasha’ Hindi, says Venkaiah Naidu

Says too much importance being given to English

Ahmedabad, June 24: It’s important to learn “Rashtra Bhasha” (national language) Hindi as most people in the country speak this language, Union minister M. Venkaiah Naidu said on Saturday.

He also stressed on the promotion of “Matrubhasha” (mother tongue) and lamented that too much importance was being attached to English in the country.

The minister was speaking at an event in Sabarmati Ashram where he presented 100 volumes of collected works of Mahatma Gandhi in English to the Ashram.

“Hindi as Rashtra Bhasha (national language) is very important, we cannot do without it... Most people in our country speak Hindi, so learning Hindi is also important...

Gandhi’s teachings and preachings are immortal and relevant to any problem, conflict, challenge, not only for India but humanity as a whole — M. Venkaiah Naidu, Union minister

but we should be fluent in our mother language like Gujarati, Marathi, Bhojpuri...,” Mr Naidu said. “We should bring them (these volumes) in all Indian languages. I do not call them regional languages because they are mother languages and national languages. Because English came subsequently. Hindi became Rashtra Bhasha, subsequently.”

The Congress criticised Mr Naidu for his remarks.

“Surprisingly and ironically, Venkaiah Naidu is giving us sermons on importance of Hindi in English... We would advise the BJP leader to sop befooling the country with his parochial views and understand no one can undermine the importance of our national language Hindi,” AICC chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said.

Mr Naidu also said Gandhian teachings were relevant at any point of time and needed to be followed.