Kamal Haasan Seconds DMK As 'Language War' Escalates, Actor Warns Centre Against Turning India Into 'Hindia'

Actor-politician Kamal Haasan on Wednesday intervened in the ongoing dispute between Tamil Nadu's ruling DMK and the BJP-led central government over 'Hindi imposition' and delimitation.

He accused the centre of attempting to "turn India into Hindia" by compelling non-Hindi-speaking states to adopt the language.

"The centre is trying to make all states speak Hindi and secure a majority in elections. Our vision is 'India'... theirs is 'Hindia'," he stated at a meeting of Tamil parties held earlier in the day.

Following the meeting, a resolution on 'Hindi imposition' and delimitation was sent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

His reference to 'Hindia' alluded to a remark made by DMK leader MK Stalin in 2019, in response to Union Home Minister Amit Shah's statement on 'Hindi Diwas'.

Shah had declared Hindi as "the one language representing (India's) identity globally," to which Stalin had retorted, "This is India, not Hindia."

Kamal Haasan, along with several Tamil politicians, has long been vocal about the perceived imposition of Hindi on southern states.

The issue, which previously led to violent clashes in the 1960s before a state election, resurfaced last month after Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan warned that the centre might withhold funds if its three-language policy was not enforced.

In response, Stalin wrote to PM Modi, criticising the "blackmail," while his deputy and son, Udhayanidhi Stalin, issued strong statements, asserting that Tamil Nadu was prepared for another 'language war'.

Last week, Kamal Haasan reinforced these warnings at a meeting of his Makkal Needi Maiyam party in Chennai. "Tamilians have sacrificed their lives for their language. Do not tamper with this issue," he cautioned.