Now that the President’s rule has been imposed in the violence hit state of Manipur, one wonders what the Central government has in store for the people of the state who have suffered enough in the past two years. More than 250 people have died and huge assets have been destroyed in the ethnic conflict which was triggered by a quota dispute. The row remains unresolved with the Centre failing to come up with a solution which is acceptable to all sides.
One also wonders how long the President’s rule will continue as people must be looking for a government which they can approach in a crisis situation. One really feels sorry for Manipur’s innocent populace who must be wondering why they have to suffer so much for no fault of theirs.
Imran Ahmed
Bengaluru, Karnataka
‘Third Language War’ in Tamil Nadu
It was reported that the Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Mr. Udhayanidhi Stalin, DMKand its allies have demanded that they didn’t want the three-language formula in the state. The BJP government wants to impose Hindi and Sanskrit by making the adoption of three-language formula compulsory in educational institutions.
Proved by a statement of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan insisting on Tamil Nadu following the three-language formula under the New Education Policy, wall posters were put up all over the venue against ‘Hindi imposition’. Speakers recalled the 1965 anti-Hindi agitation, known as the second ‘language war’, which resulted in Tamil Nadu being exempted from the three-language system. The DMKand its allies raised a belligerent war cry against the Union BJP-led government, issuing a warning on the break out of the ‘Third Language War’ if it tried to thrust the language formula on Tamil Nadu.
Led by Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, the agitation held before Chennai Collector’s office saw all senior leaders of the coalition, including DK president Veeramani, MDMK founder Vaiko, VCK president TholThirumavalavan, addressing the gathering and unanimously taking a vow to fight against imposition of Hindi and Sanskrit. Mr. M.K. Stalin had already warned in this connection. Udhayanidhi Stalin said that there was no need to study three languages as they had already excelled at the international level and occupying top position in the country like the ISRO chief, proving their mettle in science, technology, industry, business all areas of life without learning Hindi.
CM Stalin has quoted that revolutionary Tamil poet Bharathidasan saying, “If Hindi imposition is compulsory then its destruction is compulsory too.” Sharing a poem written by Bharathidasan against the Hindi imposition in 1948, Stalin asked BJP-led government at the centre to stop imposing Hindi. The poem says that Hindi will be destroyed if it is imposed on Tamils.
Chowdhry Nisar Ahmed
Noorullah pet, Ambur (T.N.)
Opposition Unity in Tatters
It is good that Egypt has called an Arab summit to discuss the outrageous plan proposed by new US President Donald Trump to shift all Palestinians from the Gaza Strip and rebuild the war devastated land. Removing people from a land with which they have an umbilical attachment is easier said than done for these are people who are deeply rooted in Gaza where they have lived for decades and maybe centuries.
Nothing is more cruel than uprooting them from the land they love and adore so much. Every world nation which cherishes its history and traditions, should fiercely oppose such a plan for it strikes at the very essence of a humanitarian society.
Shirish Gowda
Chennai, Tamilnadu