Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has taken a balanced stance amid the ongoing language debate, emphasizing the importance of both Hindi and English.
Addressing the situation, Naidu remarked, "Hindi is the national language, while English is the international language," highlighting the necessity for these languages as more Indians travel abroad for work.
Naidu stressed, "For livelihood, we will learn any number of languages. We won't forget our mother tongue. Language is primarily a tool for communication, and it's beneficial to learn as many languages as possible."
He further expressed that some people mistakenly equate language proficiency with knowledge, asserting that knowledge is best acquired when studied in one's mother tongue.
The controversy stems from the DMK government's opposition to the Central government's proposed three-language policy, which has sparked further debate in southern states.
As elections loom, the DMK has openly challenged the BJP-led Centre on issues of language policy and political representation, suggesting these policies aim to strengthen northern dominance in cultural and political spheres.
In response, the Centre maintains its stance that states like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal, ruled by Opposition parties, should promptly adopt the three-language policy.
The government emphasizes that Hindi is just one of the 22 officially recognized languages included in the National Education Policy, which aims to promote multilingualism across the country.