Worldwide movement in support of Hindi: Anand Sharma

New York, July 14 (UNI) The Indian Government will soon start a worldwide movement for including Hindi as an official language in the United Nations.

Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma, while addressing a Press Conference said yesterday, ''The presence of United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon along with the ambassadors of more than 30 countries on the first day of the Eighth World Hindi Conference will bolster India's efforts for inclusion of Hindi as the official language in the United Nations.'' In order to ensure the requisite two-thirds majority in the UN for achieving the end, an integrated worldwide movement would soon be launched, he said.

When asked whether the presence of the UN Secretary General was a positive step, Mr Sharma said, ''Inclusion of Hindi is a right and the cause demands a group effort.'' For the first time so many people have raised their voice in support of a language, he said.

Though no time limit had been set, the government would start the formal procedure and official talks after the culmination of the conference, he added.

Mr Sharma said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has promised to support the cause and the department of Hindi in the External Affairs Ministry would be given due recognition with efforts being taken up for its improvement.

UNI