New Delhi

It was in contrast to Home Minister Amit Shah's message for larger use of Hindi.

"While encouraging Hindi, we should also encourage use of mother tongues. This is the need of the hour. No language is superior," Naidu remarked. He also urged everybody to encourage children to learn Indian languages, be it Tamil, Assamese, Telugu or any other.

The Vice-President also urged residents of North India to encourage their children to learn a South Indian language to create an "atmosphere of harmony". He said he was mindful of the "apprehensions by some of the "friends", referring to a few MPs.

However in contrast, Union Home Minister Amit Shah who is now re-admitted to AIIMS, appealed to countrymen for more and more use of Hindi to contribute to the promotion of the national language on Monday.

In a video message released on the occasion of 'Hindi Diwas', Shah said it was only due to Hindi that the perennial river of Indian civilisation, culture and values had been kept alive. He emphasised the use of Hindi in official work rather than translation of documents.

All Indians should take a pledge to work for a "self-reliant" India through the use of Hindi while keeping other vernacular languages on the same pedestal, Shah added.

Naidu also referred to Covid-19 as the worst disaster in the last 100 years. "Covid-19 is the worst disaster to have hit mankind since the Spanish Flu 100 years ago. Despite having the second largest population, India has managed to control the pandemic," said the Rajya Sabha Chairman while appreciating the work done by the frontline workers.