Remove Hindi banners from Nilgiris railway station, A Raja tells Centre

Coimbatore: DMK deputy general secretary and the Nilgiris MP
A Raja
on Sunday urged Union railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to remove banners written in Hindi from the Nilgiris railway station.
He said a quote displayed at the station and attributed to Madan Mohan Malaviya was originally said by Tamil poet Mahakavi Bharathi.
In a letter to the Union minister, Raja expressed concerns over the increasing usage and prominence of Hindi at the railway station, which, he said, had stirred widespread protests.
"The Udhagamandalam railway station in my constituency is more than 100 years old. Upliftment of the station is underway under the Amrit Bharat scheme.
While only 90% of the work is complete, banners have already been put up on the walls, hurting the sentiments of the Tamil people," he said.
Raja emphasised that Tamil Nadu had a long and proud history of linguistic identity and cultural autonomy. The people of the state, he noted, had consistently advocated for a two-language policy, in line with the regional needs and historical context.
"The recent developments at Udhagamandalam railway station are seen as a case of linguistic imposition.
Promoting Hindi in public spaces feels disconnected from the linguistic needs of the local population and is viewed as a political assertion," he said and reiterated that the quote attributed to Malaviya was actually said by Mahakavi Bharathi.
He urged Ashwini Vaishnaw to respect the linguistic sentiments of the people of Tamil Nadu and avoid the compulsory inclusion of Hindi where it was not contextually necessary. He requested that officials be directed to remove the banners in question.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Time of India

44 minutes ago

• Time of India

‘Develop sewage plants on the lines of Dharavi to reduce Nag river pollution'

1 2 Nagpur: In a major push to reduce pollution in Nag River, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union minister for road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari on Saturday directed city officials to expedite the construction of two key Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) at VNIT and Dr Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth (PDKV). Fadnavis suggested that both STPs be developed on the lines of the Dharavi model in Mumbai. Fadnavis and Gadkari were holding a review meeting regarding the Nag River Pollution Abatement Project at Hyderabad House on Sunday. The Dharavi model, known for its high-efficiency sewage treatment in minimal space, is now being seen as a blueprint for Nagpur's urban water management challenges. CM Fadnavis specifically recommended that both STPs adopt a compact, high-capacity design similar to the one successfully implemented in Mumbai's Dharavi. Supporting the move, Gadkari asked Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) to immediately submit its technical report to enable the speedy execution of the projects. The two STPs are seen as critical infrastructure to stop untreated sewage from flowing directly into the Nag River — a long-standing environmental concern in the city. Once complete, the projects are expected to significantly improve the river's water quality and reduce public health risks associated with sewage pollution. Besides the STP push, Fadnavis and Gadkari reviewed the city's broader infrastructure progress. Gadkari once again expressed concern over the low-pressure water supply in some localities and directed officials to act promptly. During the meeting, a review of the city's integrated traffic management system and CCTV network was also conducted. Municipal commissioner Abhijeet Chaudhari informed that six teams are working to revive non-functional cameras and that the entire CCTV system will be operational within the next two months. The chief minister also called for a new Detailed Project Report (DPR) that considers Nagpur's future urban expansion. He instructed that any road stretches dug up for utility works, particularly by MSEDCL, be restored without delay. The meeting was attended by revenue minister and guardian minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, MLAs Krishna Khopde and Pravin Datke, urban development principal secretary Govindraj KH, MahaMetro MD Shravan Hardikar, MSIDC MD Brijesh Dixit, district collector Vipin Itankar, and senior officials from NMC, NIT, MSEDCL, and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).

India Gazette

an hour ago

• India Gazette

"Surrender arms, join mainstream": Amit Shah reiterates govt's resolve to end Naxalism

Raipur (Chhattisgarh) [India], June 22 (ANI): Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday reiterated the commitment of the Indian government to weed out Naxalism by March 31, 2026. He appealed to the Naxalites to give up arms and join the mainstream. 'I had said that on March 31, 2026, this country will be free from Naxalism, and I would like to reiterate today that the way the security forces have shown valour, we will definitely achieve this goal,' Shah said while addressing the gathering here. Shah made an appeal to Naxalites engaged in armed resistance to shun the path of violence and join the mainstream. He said that the Chhattisgarh government's surrender policy allows those who give up arms to contribute to the development of the state. 'Vishnu Deo Sai has curated a very impressive surrender policy; come and surrender and contribute to the development of Chhattisgarh. It did not require any talk. Have faith in the government. Surrender your arms and join the mainstream,' the Home Minister said. He lauded the efforts of the Chhattisgarh government for intensifying the stalled anti-naxal operations and encouraging the police and security forces. Shah said that significant breakthroughs were being achieved under Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo and Deputy CM Vijay Sharma. 'The biggest achievement of Vishnu Deo Sai's government in Chhattisgarh and the state's Home Minister, Vijay Sharma, is that they started the stalled anti-Naxal operation at a fast pace. I have seen that since the formation of the government, both leaders have not only accelerated the anti-Naxal operation but also guided it from time to time. It has encouraged the police and security forces and carried forward this fight efficiently,' Shah said. 'On behalf of the government of India, I extended greetings to Vijay Sharma and CM Sai for their effort in the field of Naxalism,' he added. Shah remembered former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee during his centenary year and credited him with creating Chhattisgarh. He announced that the government has decided to celebrate 25 years of Chhattisgarh as 'Atal Nirman Year.' 'This is the centenary year of Atal Bihari Vajpayee. I have been coming to Chhattisgarh for the last 11 years. I can confidently say that all the credit for the creation of Chhattisgarh goes to our leader, Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The entire credit for beautifying Chhattisgarh goes to the current Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Chhattisgarh government is celebrating its 25th year, and it has been decided to celebrate the year of establishment as Atal Nirman Year,' he added. Laying the foundation stones for the National Forensic Science University (NFSU) and Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) in Nava Raipur, Shah said that it would further advance and strengthen the criminal justice system of Chhattisgarh and central India. 'Today marks an important day for Chhattisgarh's criminal justice system. In a way, three new initiatives are being started to further advance the criminal justice system: The laying of the foundation stones for National Forensic Science University and Central Forensic Science Laboratory laid today along with the transit campus of NFSU inaugurated,' the Union Home Minister said. 'The move will strengthen the criminal justice system in central India,' he added. Shah informed that the Chhattisgarh government had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) worth Rs 5,000 crore at the investment summit held this year, which would bring industries to the state. 'Chhattisgarh's i-Hub has also been inaugurated. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) worth Rs 5,000 crore has been signed at an investment summit organised by CM Vishnu Deo Sai. The industries are coming. However, until the youth does not push themselves to be industrialists, Chhattisgarh will not witness an industrial revolution (development),' he said. Talking about the Innovation Hubs in Chhattisgarh, the Union Home Minister encouraged the youth to pursue careers in starting industries and developing such a culture that would allow the state to develop. 'i-hub will ensure technical and financial help to the youths in establishing their startups. This will provide a major opportunity and platform for the youths of Chhattisgarh. Until the youth here becomes MSME industrialist and develops a culture of this kind, Chhattisgarh cannot develop,' Shah added. Meanwhile, Shah informed that the NFSU campus will be constructed at Rs 145 crore, and the CFSL will be constructed at Rs 123 crore. 'The top forensic science institutes will be constructed at a total cost of Rs 268 crore. The state government has given land for the same.' Home Minister shared details about the courses to be offered by NFSU and appealed to the youth to show confidence in the Narendra Modi government, assuring that employment is guaranteed after graduating from NFSU. 'Trust the Modi government, NFSU ka graduation matlab apki naukri ki guarantee hai (employment is guaranteed after graduating from NFSU),' Shah said, adding, 'The development of these instituted will reduce the dependency on big cities for forensic sample examination.' He lauded the Chhattisgarh government for implementing new criminal laws, including Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA). 'The Chhattisgarh government is working very well on implementing three critical laws. Implementing these laws will ensure that justice is served within three years of registering an FIR,' Shah said. Shah also held a security review (Suraksha Sameeksha) meeting in Nava Raipur. (ANI)

Deccan Herald

an hour ago

• Deccan Herald

Drop fresh caste census exercise, support Centre's survey: Forum

Bengaluru: The Samajika Nyaya Jagruthi Vedike on Sunday urged the state government not to 'hurriedly' conduct another Social and Educational survey (caste census) since the Union government had already decided to enumerate castes during the upcoming decadal forum conducted a round-table conference to gather opinions about the caste reporters after the meeting, Prof Vishnukant Chattapalli said: 'We welcome the Centre's decision to enumerate castes along with the upcoming census. It will be more comprehensive and constitutionally sound too. Already, Rs 165 crore of the taxpayers' money has been wasted on the caste census (in Karnataka). Thus, the state government should not go for another hurried caste census but instead support the Centre's move and strengthen federalism.'.Fresh caste census in Karnataka: Panel preps for fresh survey even as Congress faces Ahinda that 10 years had been 'wasted' in Karnataka over the caste census issue, he said: 'Hereon, the government must be careful while utilising taxpayers' money. They must not make the caste census a victim of their selfishness and politics. The Kantharaj Commission report should be released to the public.'.Chattapalli noted that the Union government's exercise, expected to cost Rs 13,000 crore, would use 32 to the Congress' allegations that the Centre hadn't specified whether the census would include a social and educational survey, former Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) member Mukudappa said the Congress didn't have the 'ethical standing' to oppose the report.