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CISF official asked me if I am Indian as I don't know Hindi: DMK MP Kanimozhi

DMK leader Kanimozhi (PTI) — DMK leader Kanimozhi **(PTI)**

1 min read . Updated: 09 Aug 2020, 08:18 PM IST Agencies

'I would like to know from when being Indian is equal to knowing Hindi,' Kanimozhi tweeted with the hashtag 'hindiimposition'
'I think the greatness of this country is the acceptance of its diversity and inclusiveness. Somewhere we are losing that,' she later said

Chennai/New Delhi: DMK MP Kanimozhi on Sunday alleged that a CISF official asked her if "she was an Indian" as she could not speak Hindi, prompting the paramilitary force to respond saying appropriate action will be taken. The incident is understood to have taken place when Kanimozhi was at the Chennai international airport to take a flight to Delhi. "Today at the airport a CISF officer asked me if 'I am an Indian' when I asked her to speak to me in Tamil or English as I did not know Hindi," Kanimozhi, who is also the DMK's women's wing secretary, said on her official Twitter account.

Today at the airport a CISF officer asked me if “I am an Indian when I asked her to speak to me in tamil or English as I did not know Hindi. I would like to know from when being indian is equal to knowing Hindi.#hindiimposition
— Kanimozhi (கனிமொழி) (@KanimozhiDMK) August 9, 2020

"I would like to know from when being Indian is equal to knowing Hindi," she tweeted with the hashtag "hindiimposition." The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) sought details from her soon after. "Warm greetings from @CISFHQrs. We sincerely acknowledge your unpleasant experience. Kindly DM journey details; name of airport, location, date, and time of the incident for appropriate action in the matter," the CISF tweeted.

According to party sources, the incident occurred in Chennai when the MP was at the airport to board a Delhi flight in the afternoon. She has reached the national capital and she will be there for a few more days and has official engagements. Kanimozhi is the member of Parliament from Thoothukkudi in Tamil Nadu. The CISF is the national civil aviation security force and it provides counter-terrorist and anti-sabotage cover to 64 such facilities in the country at present.

"Just because you don't belong to one religion or don't speak a particular language doesn't make you less of an Indian. I think the greatness of this country is the acceptance of its diversity and inclusiveness. Somewhere we are losing that," Kanimozhi told ANI in New Delhi later on Sunday.

"When I landed here (New Delhi) officers met me and they apologised about what happened. They have promised to start an inquiry and take action. I thank them for that," she added.