Contentious poster at Tamil Nadu railway station removed after protests against ‘Hindi imposition’
The Hindi language poster had replaced an earlier sign-board which displayed the Tamil word ‘Thagaval Maiyyam’, meaning ‘Information Centre’.
The local commuters claimed that in place of ‘Sahyog’, ‘Sevai Mayyam’ in Tamil and ‘Information Centre’ in English would be easier for them to comprehend.
The image of the sign board was shared on social media by a commuter, which sparked a plethora of reactions.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin’s son and DMK youth wing leader Udhayanidhi Stalin said: “Hindi could never be imposed on Dravidian soil.”
The political arm of the powerful Vanniyar community in TN, the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) lodged a strong protest. “This move was the Centre’s attempt to impose Hindi in Tamil Nadu”, said Dr. S. Ramadoss, the founding leader of the PMK, adding that the localities vehemently “oppose” and “condemn” it.
