In the ongoing Hindi-English row between the Raj Bhawan and the Kalidas Marg, Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav has found support from an unexpected quarter -- the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Joining the issue with the Samajwadi Party (SP) chief, the BJP on Tuesday charged the Governor TV Rajeswar with violating the Constitution by advocating use of English.
Taking a dig at the Governor's Independence Day speech, BJP state vice- president and spokesman HN Dixit alleged that it was unfortunate that the constitutional head of the state was discouraging ' Rashtra Bhasha ' to promote English.
"It is violative of the Article 351 of Constitution which directs the Centre to promote Hindi language as per Eight Schedule," Dixit said while launching a scathing attack on the Governor. Since Governor was representative of the Centre, he had clearly violated Constitution, he added.
The BJP leader reminded the Governor that Hindi was the official language of Uttar Pradesh and the proceedings of both the Houses of the state legislature were done in Hindi. "Even there is a provision to translate all English statements and illustrations into Hindi before being read into the house," claimed the former parliamentary affairs minister.
As per Article 168, the governor is an inseparable part of the state Legislature, Dixit pointed out alleging that despite this the Governor advocated use of English in place of Hindi. "By doing so he has not only ridiculed Constitution but also violated the oath of the office and secrecy under Article 159," he added.
The BJP leader objected to Governor's remark during his I-Day speech that "only English could speed up development in the country."
"India was a developed country even before Britishers had set their foot in the soil. They ruined the cultural fabric by forcing upon their language and culture on Indians. Mahatma Gandhi has elaborated this in 'Hind Swaraj'," he pointed.
By advocating use of English, the
governor had unnecessary kicked up a row over official language. "Such
controversies would only bring the country to the brink of another division,"
he added.