India has no single national language, says Union Minister Kiren Rijiju

DIMAPUR — Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Kiren Rijiju, on Friday clarified that India does not have a single national language, stressing that every Indian language is an integral part of the country’s identity.

His remarks came in response to Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s recent comment that “those who speak English in India will soon feel ashamed.”

Interacting briefly with media persons at Dimapur Airport ahead of an official programme scheduled for Saturday, Rijiju said, “Speaking a language that isn’t one’s mother tongue is acceptable, but forgetting one’s mother tongue is not.”

He reiterated that India’s linguistic diversity means all Indian languages are considered national languages, not just one.

“Every language spoken in India forms part of our cultural identity,” he added.

Also read: Konyak Union seeks Nagaland government intervention over alleged harassment of Mon travellers in Assam

While acknowledging that English is a foreign language, the minister noted that it is still useful to learn and speak.

However, he stressed the importance of preserving one’s mother tongue, calling it a vital aspect of cultural heritage.

“The issue is not learning other languages, but forgetting or neglecting your mother tongue,” he said.

On his visit to Dimapur, Rijiju informed that he was in the city to attend the Rozgar Mela, a recruitment initiative under the prime minister’s employment mission.

He stated that appointment letters will be distributed to “local Naga candidates” during the programme.

As a minister representing the Northeast, Rijiju also said he would be discussing various developmental issues and schemes related to Nagaland.

“Since I’m from the Northeast, I can assist with developmental proposals of Nagaland that are pending or being submitted to the central government,” he added.

He clarified, however, that this visit was not political in nature and that he would not be engaging in any political discussions.