NEW DELHI: There was a Rumpus in Parliament when two members from Tamil Nadu loudly protested against the imposition of Hindi and tore off what was purported to be the Prime Minister’s letter to members of Parliament in Hindi.
Dr. K. Kalimathu of the ATAKMK warned that any attempt to impose Hindi might lead to the demand for a separate Dravidanadu.
He referred to the “banning” of English in four northern states and said the National Front government was not an Indian government but a Hindi government.
‘A Congress I member Mr. C.K Kappuswami, was visibly angry when the Speaker did not allow him to have his say. He rushed to the well of the House and tore off the said letter. Mr. Kappuswami was persuaded by senior Congress I members to resume his seat. The speaker sternly told the member to return to his seat. He did not concede the Congress I member’s plea to make a submission. ‘The issue of large scale migration of Hindus from Sind to Rajasthan was raised by Dr. Vijay Kumar Malhotra of the BJP. The member alleged that large scale killing of Hindus and rape of Hindu women was taking place in Pakistan. The center must put pressure on Pakistan to stop these crimes and to create conditions for return of the refugees to their homes in Pakistan.
Dr. Malhotra alleged that a large number of temples had also been destroyed and that several thousand refugees had poured into Rajasthan. He wanted the Indian government to make adequate arrangements to rehabilitate the refugees and provide relief to them.
Mr. Jagpal Singh (Cong I) alleged that activists of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Bajrang Daland the RSS had destroyed a mosque in Hardwara constituency. He demanded reconstruction of the mosque at the earliest. He alleged that the VHP and allied organisations had during a procession in his constituency raised provocation slogans.
Article extracted from this publication >> September 14, 1990
