Wants to fuel North-South divide: BJP slams Rahul Gandhi's 'Tamil language' remark

The BJP on Sunday rejected Rahul Gandhi’s claim that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched a “full-scale attack” on Tamil language and culture, accusing the Congress leader of attempting to fuel a North-South divide along linguistic lines.Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters in Delhi, party spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi termed Rahul Gandhi’s allegations “baseless” and said Tamil had received “immense respect” under the Modi government.Trivedi alleged that Rahul Gandhi was trying to use language as a tool to create conflict and push the country towards “anarchy and divisiveness”. “The attempts Rahul Gandhi makes to incite conflict... Having tried to exploit gender dynamics, he has now decided to try and instigate a North-South divide,” he said.“Burning with jealousy and crippled by frustration, Rahul Gandhi has once again attempted to level baseless, reckless and unfounded allegations against our government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Chennai,” he added. Citing the Modi government's use of artificial intelligence (AI) for translation, Trivedi argued that the Centre had worked to promote Indian languages and reduce linguistic barriers.He referred to PM Modi’s recent address at the Kashi-Tamil Sangamam, saying the Prime Minister’s speech in Hindi was translated into Tamil in real time using AI. He also pointed to AI-powered translation facilities in Parliament, which allow members to access proceedings in 22 Indian languages. Trivedi said that earlier, members wishing to speak in languages other than Hindi or English had to provide advance notice so that interpreters could be arranged. Technology had helped overcome such barriers, he argued.“Within a few years, Rahul Gandhi, your desire to use language as a tool for conflict will be buried deep within your heart,” he said.WHAT RAHUL GANDHI SAIDThe BJP's response came a day after Rahul Gandhi accused the Modi government of attacking Tamil Nadu’s language, culture, history and traditions while addressing students at the ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ event in Chennai on Saturday.“What we are seeing is a full-scale attack on Tamil culture... On your language, history and traditions. But we are not going to let Modi attack them,” he said.The Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha also accused Union Home Minister Amit Shah of advocating Hindi imposition in Tamil Nadu.He alleged that the state was being denied education funds over its refusal to implement the National Education Policy (NEP). He claimed that Rs 3,300 crore had been withheld from Tamil Nadu over the issue.He also argued that the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) had reduced opportunities for Tamil-medium students, claiming that their share of MBBS seats had fallen by 87 per cent.Rahul Gandhi further alleged that the proposed delimitation exercise was designed to “punish” Tamil Nadu and reduce its voice in Parliament. “It is an attack on Tamil Nadu, we are not going to let Modi attack Tamil language, history and culture,” he said.He also accused the Centre of suppressing dissent and weakening democratic institutions, asserting that citizens had the right to question those in power. “Democracy is your right to ask questions. The Constitution protects your right to question,” he further said.- Ends(with inputs from PTI, ANI)