Superstar Rajinikanth’s comments on Hindi and 'one nation, one language' policy has triggered a debate on social media. Rajinikanth’s comments have once again made Twitteratti call him a “BJP and RSS supporter.” #SanghiRajini and #sayitlikeRajini began trending.
Days after Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke on Hindi as a common language, Rajinikanth said that while a common language will help the country to grow, “unfortunately” it is not possible to be implemented, especially in south India. “Be it whichever country, a common language will help in a country’s growth, development and unity. Unfortunately, in India you cannot have a common language, because Tamil Nadu and other southern states and even some of the states in north India will not accept it,” Rajinikanth said while responding to a question from the mediapersons on Amit Shah’s statement during his Hindi Diwas speech.
Rajinikanth, off late has been expressing his views in the media on every issue, when he is approached for a comment. Apparently his use of the word “unfortunately” triggered social media trolls.
“Rajinikanth is apparently a BJP supporter. This has been made apparent in several earlier occasions when he commented on BJP’s policies or statements. This time, too, he has come out with one such support statement,” said J. Anbhazhagan of the DMK. The Tamil Nadu BJP leaders have welcomed Rajini’s statement saying it is his own views.
On September 14, during Hindi Diwas, Amit Shah in his official speech to the people of the country called for Hindi as ‘national language.’ Shah’s statement saw strong opposition in Tamil Nadu and neighbouring Kerala.
Actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan had argued against 'one nation, one language' policy. In a video posted on Monday, Haasan said that Indians were promised unity in diversity when the country became a republic. He warned that the battle for language will be much bigger than the Jallikattu protests of 2017.
In the video, Haasan urged the union to not make an inclusive India into an exclusive one by trying to impose a single language across the country.