[lg policy] India: Language bill crosses first hurdle

[Harold Schiffman]

 Language Bill crosses first hurdle
December 14, 2017 00:02 IST
Updated: December 13, 2017 23:04 IST
more-in
archives <http://www.thehindu.com/topic/From_the_Archives/>

The Lok Sabha to-day [December 13, New Delhi] adopted the motion for
consideration of the Official Languages (Amendment) Bill and the official
resolution on language policy by an overwhelming majority of 213 votes to
69. While the D.M.K. voted against the motion, three Congress members
including Seth Govind Das also voted against the motion. The P.S.P. voted
for the Bill. The S.S.P. and the Jan Sangh also voted against the motion.
All amendments seeking to circulate the Bill for eliciting public opinion,
reference to Joint Select Committee and reference to Supreme Court for
getting opinion were rejected by the House. The first reading alone took
more than a record time of 13 hours. The House gave its general approval to
the Bill after the Home Minister, Mr. Y.B. Chavan, had announced the
Government’s willingness to accept some of the amendments in order to
clarify the purpose of the Bill. Before the Home Minister spoke, Mr.
Sreekantan Nair (R.S.P-Kerala) rose and demanded an opportunity to speak on
behalf of his State. The Speaker did not grant his request. Protagonists of
Hindi who indulged in heckling those with whom they differed throughout the
day were stunned to silence when Mr. Nair thundered several times, “Down
with Hindi imperialism,” collected his papers and walked out of the House.
Never before had party lines been shed so completely as in this debate in
which the House was divided virtually into supporters of Hindi amid those
who fought against the imposition of Hindi. Speeches made by Jan Sangh
members were cheered by Congressmen. The S.S.P. benches applauded the
remarks of Congressmen from Hindi speaking areas. The D.M.K, several
Swatantra members and Communists spoke with almost one voice. Congressmen
from West Bengal differed from Congressmen from Hindi areas.


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 Harold F. Schiffman

Professor Emeritus of
 Dravidian Linguistics and Culture
Dept. of South Asia Studies
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6305

Phone:  (215) 898-7475
Fax:  (215) 573-2138

Email:  haroldfs at gmail.com
http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/~haroldfs/

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