The Congress and the DMK, which ended their decades-long alliance after the recent assembly election in Tamil Nadu, are now busy bickering. The southern party has questioned why a north Indian language has been chosen to name the programme.
The lastest flashpoint is Rahul Gandhi’s “Chhatron ka Goonj” programme, which the DMK has slammed over its Hindi name, giving the issue a language spin and placing the former ally in the same category as the BJP. The Congress has called the argument “absurd”.
“Rahul Gandhi named the event ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ in Hindi. Didn’t anyone tell him that Hindi is unwelcome in Tamil Nadu? Why couldn’t it be named in English or Tamil?” DMK’s A Saravanan said today.
“We have criticised the BJP for using Hindi for its schemes. So what is the difference between the Congress and the BJP if they follow the same approach?” he had added. “The DMK’s comment is absurd. The Congress did a student programme. It is a nationwide programme. Rahul Gandhi spoke in English in the programme and it was translated in Tamil,” he added. The Congress leader also pointed out how M K Stalin, as Chief Minister, had flagged off Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra in Kanniyakumari. As a DMK ally, the Congress had supported the Tamil identity cause while supporting Hindi nationally when it is chosen by students as a part of the three-language policy. During the Monsoon Session of parliament, the DMK refused to join the Opposition walkout during crucial votes on the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill and instead participated in discussions on the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill.
Congress’ Mohan Kumaramangalam declared that the DMK spokesperson is “sounding like a jilted lover”. That time he did not speak of any language barrier, he said.
