Hindi highway signs are not imposition, Congress MP says
Congress MP Karti Chidambaram has said Hindi on a highway signboard should not automatically be treated as an attempt to impose the language in Tamil Nadu. He maintained his opposition to Hindi imposition and support for the state’s two-language policy, while commenting on electoral and political issues.
Congress MP Karti Chidambaram has said Hindi on a highway signboard should not automatically be considered an attempt to impose the language in Tamil Nadu. Speaking to reporters in Sivaganga, he referred to reports that Tamil Nadu had suspended two highways officials after “unauthorised Hindi inscriptions” appeared on signage on the Nagercoil-Madurai State Highway, or SH-93. Chidambaram said signs in Hindi could help travellers from other states avoid confusion.
He noted that many people use Google Maps to navigate and said road signs in Tamil were also present in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. The MP nevertheless said he remained opposed to imposing Hindi in Tamil Nadu. He said the state’s two-language formula should continue to be followed.
Chidambaram also called for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign, citing what he described as large-scale confusion surrounding the Special Intensive Revision process in states including Karnataka and West Bengal. He said the Congress was demanding his resignation and that “vote theft” could not be allowed. Asked about criticism by DMK president M.K.
Stalin of a TVK candidate in a by-election, Chidambaram said body-shaming should generally be avoided and that political leaders should focus on issues rather than personal attacks. He said he was unsure about allegations of money distribution in two Assembly constituencies, adding that such allegations were not new in Tamil Nadu elections. He also commented on a proposal to extend free bus travel for women under a TVK government, saying it could increase public transport use, reduce private vehicle movement and ease congestion in cities.
The supplied report did not provide further details about the highway suspensions or the election-related allegations.
Vertrix News compared the attributed reports listed below and wrote this independent synthesis. Claims remain attributed where independent verification was unavailable.