Vice President bats for Tamil as official language of Madras HC

Talking at the launch of his book on his two-year term in office titled Listening, Learning & Leading, the Vice President said, “Tamil should be made as the official language in Madras High Court. Similarly, Gujarati should be made the official language in Gujarat High Court and Telugu in Andhra Pradesh High Court. Though the difficulty of translating Tamil in High Court might be cited, it is now possible with the available technology.” Naidu also questioned the need for English in High Court functioning in Chennai.

Citing the advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology, Naidu said the parliamentarians from Tamil Nadu spoke in Tamil in Parliament, as technology is available for effectivetranslation.

Speaking about learning other languages, Venkaiah Naidu said, “No language should be either imposed or should be opposed. I am saying it in front of my colleagues.” He added that mother tongue was like eyesight. “If our mother tongue is strong our eyesight would be good. Other languages are like spectacles and they can only improve our eyesight,” said the Vice President.

He also criticised parents who force their children to call them as mummy and daddy. “Call your mother as Amma, not the Amma that Minister Jayakumar and Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami say,” quipped Naidu.

Never wanted to become VP: Venkaiah Naidu

Vice President Naidu said he never wanted to become the VP, but take up “constructive work” following the footsteps of Bharatiya Jana Sangh leader and social activist, the late Nanaji Deshmukh.

Naidu said he was in tears the day he was named for the Vice President’s post for the simple reason that he would not be able to visit the BJP office or talk to the party workers. Despite coming from a humble background, the party had given him everything, except Prime Ministership, for which he was not suitable, the septuagenarian said.

“My dear friends I must tell you the truth...I never wanted to become VP...,” he said. Naidu said he expressed his interest to Prime Minister Narendra Modi that in his second term (after 2019) he wanted to quit the government, follow Nanaji Deshmukh and go for constructive work (Rachanathmak Karyakram). “I was planning on that ground... I was enjoying that I will be doing that... But this did not happen,” Naidu said.

Stating that he even suggested some names for the VP post, Naidu said “After a party parliamentary board meeting, Amit bhai (the then BJP President) said everyone in the party thought I will be the most suitable man. I never expected that. I was in tears, not because I was losing the ministership, which I anyway was going to leave.”

He said he was overcome by emotion then for a simple reason – that from the next day, he would not be able to go to the BJP office or meet party workers.

Naidu said he was worried about the future of the movement (ABVP, RSS), which left him in tears.

“I joined the movement at a young age and the party gave me everything, except Prime Ministership, for which I am not suitable. I know my capacities and calibre,” he said.