NCW conclave in Delhi, furore in Kerala: ‘Centre forcing Hindi’

A National Commission for Women workshop in Delhi has sparked a language controversy, with Kerala legislators protesting against the exclusive use of Hindi. The two-day event, held on September 7 and 8 at Taj Surajkund Resort in Faridabad, witnessed eight United Democratic Front (UDF) legislators walk out. Chief Minister V D Satheesan of Kerala accused the Centre of "forcing Hindi at a national conclave and intimidating delegates from non-Hindi speaking states, which undermines the very essence of our constitutional compact."

Satheesan emphasized the importance of India being a Union of diverse linguistic traditions, not a monolithic entity, and called for mutual respect, accommodation, and constitutional equality rather than linguistic imposition. Kerala's Minister for Labour, Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development, Milk Co-operatives, and Women & Child Development, Bindhu Krishna, expressed disappointment that the NCW workshop could have been held at the BJP office, stating that the Kerala leaders were invited to sit on the dais but were not allowed to speak.

The sessions were conducted entirely in Hindi, and they requested that English be used to ensure they could understand. When the deputy speaker and another Congress legislator, Shanimol Usman, interrupted a session being held in Hindi, the NCW chairperson promised to look into the issue, but no action was taken.