Indian Political Leader Calls for Banning the Use of English in Parliament

On November 16, political leader Mulayam Singh Yadav, chief of India’s Samajwadi Party, called for a ban on the use of the English language in the Indian Parliament in what constitutes another instance of his fight against the use of English in the country. The media in general has reacted in opposition to Yadav’s viewpoint, supporting the use of English as an important tool for the country, which places India in an advantageous position when compared to other developing countries around the world.

Yadav’s View

According to Mulayam Singh Yadav, the development and importance of mother tongues are typical of developed countries. He justifies his opposition towards English by stating that Hindi should be promoted instead to consolidate India as a more developed country. He added that if the leaders of the country wanted to support the development of Hindi they should abandon the double standards and stop using English in parliamentary sessions. Yadav also commented that Hindi should be promoted in all different regions so that it is spoken in addition to any regional language or dialect.

Media Opposition

Even though Yadav clarified that his crusade was not against the English language itself, the media has reacted strongly against his assertions. The Times of India published a strongly negative view on Yadav’s ban, regarding it as absurd. The Times highlighted, instead, the English language’s ability to work as a common language among parliamentarians of different linguistic backgrounds, as well as its position as the language of opportunity.

The Pioneer also took a strong stance against Yadav’s request to ban English from Parliament, this time on the basis of deeming the opposition established between English and Hindi invalid. The Pioneer stated that there was no reason why English should stop the development or affect the importance of Hindi in India. According to them, Yadav’s fight is just another way to win votes from people who believe in the false concept that English knowledge affects Hindi’s growth.

More about Mulayam Singh Yadav

Mulayam Singh Yadav is an Indian politician who was first elected as a Member of the Legislative Assembly in 1967. Since then, Yadav has been Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, and Minister of Defense. The Samajwadi Party has vowed to fight against the use of English in other areas besides politics. In 2009, the party stated its opposition towards English in schools, which they regarded as elitist. The party’s manifesto is, in itself, anti-English.