DIMAPUR, July 12: Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju on Friday reaffirmed India’s linguistic diversity by stating that the country has no single national language.
Speaking to reporters at Dimapur Airport ahead of his scheduled visit to participate in the Rozgar Mela, Rijiju emphasised the equal importance of all Indian languages and underscored the significance of preserving one’s mother tongue.
His comments came amid recent national debate following Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement that “those who speak English in India will soon feel ashamed.”
Clarifying his stand, Rijiju said that while speaking a foreign language like English is not inherently wrong, forgetting or neglecting one’s native language is a matter of concern.
The minister also acknowledged the practical utility of English, stating that its use is widespread and useful, but it should not come at the cost of losing one’s linguistic roots.
