National

India's many languages are not its weakness: Rahul Gandhi

Days after Home Minister Amit Shah pitched for Hindi as a common language for the country, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday said India's many languages are not its weakness.

migrator

New Delhi

Congress leader Rajiv Shukla, at a media briefing, said Hindi is India's official language which "we want to grow", but along with that regional languages should also be encouraged.

There should be no fight over language, he said.

"Hindi continues to grow, this is what we all want, but by putting pressure, by doing something, it is not appropriate to use that issue only for votes.

"India's many languages are not her weakness," Gandhi said in a tweet and listed 23 Indian languages.

The Congress on Saturday said the three-language formula should not be tinkered with and controversies must not be stirred up on "emotive" issues settled by Constitution-makers.

According to the Official Languages Act, 1963, Hindi and English are the official languages for the Union government and Parliament.

A total of 22 languages of the country are recognised under the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.

Visit news.dtnext.in to explore our interactive epaper!

Download the DT Next app for more exciting features!

Click here for iOS

Click here for Android

Chennai: Gold crosses Rs 1 lakh, up nearly 76% in 2025; silver hits record Rs 231 on December 22

India, New Zealand conclude FTA talks; pact to offer duty-free access, USD 20 bn FDI

Gross errors in SIR exercise conducted so far by EC in West Bengal: Mamata

After Hadi, another Bangladesh student leader shot in head

Talks resume amid nurses’ stir; Govt assures phased resolution of key demands