Ravichandran Ashwin sparks fresh language row: ‘Hindi is not national language but…’; netizen asks, ‘joining politics?’
Ravichandran Ashwin sparked a fresh language row after he said that Hindi is an official language, not India's national language. While addressing students, he encouraged questions in Hindi. His comments drew criticism from the BJP, while the DMK supported him.
Ravichandran Ashwin sparked a fresh language row after he said that ‘Hindi is not the national language of India’ but rather the ‘official language’.
Addressing students at a private college, the former Indian cricketer asked the students if anyone wanted to ask any questions in Hindi in case they were not fluent in English or Tamil.
“I thought I should say this: Hindi is not our national language; it is an official language,” Ravichandran Ashwin said in Hindi.
While the Bharatiya Janaya Party (BJP) slammed the retired Indian cricketer for his remark, the DMK backed him.
How netizens react
However, there were strong reactions to the comment from netizens.
One said, “Why should Ashwin talk like this? I don't like this. Let him remain a cricketer. I am his fan. The more languages you learn, the better. There are translations available for any language immediately on our phones. What's the problem? Leave the language issue to people.”
“These statements are part of his other game, in which he is making a plot from now on to join politics. If he had said it before while playing, then it would have been better. These all exist because they come into the limelight. Nothing else. Ashwin was an average player,” another said.
Kannada language row at Diljeet Dosanjh concert
A similar row was triggered last month during Diljit Dosanjh's concert in Bengaluru when a woman, in an X post, shared harrowing details of how the event turned into a “Kannada language row” for her. Sharing the incident, Tanisha Sabherwal claimed that a woman pushed her and hurled abuses after she requested her to move aside.
Also Read | Diljit Dosanjh meets PM Modi on New Year’s day
Sabherwal said that the altercation escalated when her friend came to defend her, and the woman in question twisted his arm. Sabherwal—who recorded the incident—was then threatened with police action.
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Business NewsNewsIndiaRavichandran Ashwin sparks fresh language row: ‘Hindi is not national language but…’; netizen asks, ‘joining politics?’
First Published:10 Jan 2025, 10:34 AM IST
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