Agartala — Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to Tripura on Friday to inaugurate an official language conference triggered protests by the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC), which accused the BJP-led Centre of attempting to impose Hindi as a national language.
Outside the Congress Bhavan in Agartala, party workers staged a demonstration, raising slogans against what they described as “language terrorism.” The protest was timed to coincide with Shah’s presence in the state, signalling the party’s strong opposition to the Centre’s language policy and the promotion of Hindi through official platforms.
Addressing reporters, Pradesh Congress spokesperson Prabir Chakraborty criticised the Union government’s approach, terming it “Hindi imperialism” and “an assault on India’s pluralism.” He alleged that pushing Hindi at the national level undermines the country’s rich linguistic diversity and weakens the federal structure. According to him, any move perceived as enforcing a single language risks marginalising regional identities and eroding constitutional principles.
Chakraborty further claimed that the BJP was pursuing a “hidden agenda” to homogenise India’s diverse linguistic landscape while diverting attention from pressing concerns such as unemployment and rising prices. Protesters held placards with slogans criticising the Home Minister and accusing the government of undermining democratic rights.
Congress leaders maintained that India’s unity is rooted in its diversity, including its many languages and cultures. They argued that linguistic plurality is a defining feature of the nation and cautioned against policies that may be interpreted as favouring one language over others.
The BJP, however, has consistently maintained that it supports the promotion of Hindi alongside regional languages and denies any attempt to impose it. The conference in Agartala forms part of the Centre’s broader efforts to review and promote the use of official languages across regions.
