Hindi imposition: Has Modi silenced his critics in Tamil Nadu?

Chennai: A week ago, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah faced a lot of criticisms from almost all parties in Tamil Nadu including the DMK, VCK, Congress, and MDMK among others. Amit Shah’s remarks at Hindi Diwas for a common language in the country and Narendra Modi’s silence let loose protests at many places. Cut to the present, and things have taken a different turn.

Modi’s speech at UN General Assembly where he referenced Tamil as the oldest language and quoting Tamil poet Kaniyan Poongunranar’s Yathum Oore Yavarum Kelir was well received. His repetition of the same in Chennai on Monday seems to have silenced the PM’s critics. Modi, who was in the city to attend the convocation of IIT-Madras, said that he loves Tamil and Tamil Nadu a lot.

DMK president, MK Stalin, today, welcomed Modi’s comments on Tamil in Chennai. In a letter, Stalin said he wholeheartedly appreciate the PM for his love for Tamil and requested him to make Tamil the official language of India.

Even Makkal Needhi Maiam President Kamal Haasan said, “Language is a tool for communication”, and clarified that he is not against any language. VCK General Secretary Thol Thirumavalavan even thanked Modi for praising Tamil at an international forum.

The state unit of BJP organised a mega felicitation event at Chennai airport praising Modi for speaking about Tamil in UN General Assembly. Political pundits say that a shrewd Modi has silenced his critics. What snowballed into a big controversy in Tamil Nadu, it was dissolved into a minor issue thanks to a few speeches.