Visakhapatnam: Yarlagadda urges Centre not to impose Hindi on people

Visakhapatnam: Andhra Pradesh Official Language Commission Chairman Yarlagadda Lakshmi Prasad has tread cautiously on the remarks made by the Union Home Minister Amit Shah that it is important to have one common language, Hindi, to unite the country.

Addressing media here on Monday, he said though spread of Hindi is inevitable, it cannot be forced on the people.

He said just as English was the link language, in the Southern states of the country as well as in the North-East, the use of Hindi was increasing day-by-day.

Lakshmi Prasad said the Home Minister had expressed his views at the 'Hindi Day' celebrations and he never said anything that amounted to imposing Hindi.

However, Yarlagadda stated that he would oppose any attempt to force Hindi on people. The importance of learning Hindi should be campaigned but not forced upon, he opined.

The former Rajya Sabha MP criticised the Tamil Nadu government for not allowing SSC students who studied in Telugu medium to take examinations in Telugu. However, the High Court order came as a breather, he said.