Use of Hindi on social media only for Hindi-speaking states: Govt

"The Department of Official Languages, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India had issued a circular on 10th March, 2014 stating that in keeping with the existing policy of the Government regarding use of Hindi, Government of India communication in ‘A’ category States i.e. Hindi speaking States must give equal importance to the use of Hindi in its social media platforms. The instructions reiterated that both English and Hindi must be used on official Twitter, Facebook, blogs etc by the Government of India," the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement.

"It is clarified that these instructions of the Department of Official Languages dated 10th March, 2014 do not seek to impose communication in Hindi on States which are not Hindi speaking. The instructions of Department of Official Languages have only reiterated the existing Government of India’s policy on the use of Hindi in which the use of Hindi is compulsory in Government’s communication only in the Hindi speaking States," the statement said.

The Ministry of Home Affairs in its circular dated 27.05.2014 has communicated the above guidelines of the Department of Official Languages with regard to the social media to its departments.

"Therefore, this is neither a new policy nor an attempt to impose the use of Hindi on any non Hindi speaking State," Modi's government claimed.

Earlier in the day, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati opposed the Modi government's order of asking bureaucrats to use Hindi language for tweeting and posting comments on social media outlets.

In a letter to Narendra Modi, Jayalalithaa asked the Prime Minister to  make English the medium of communication on social media.

"As you are aware, as per the Official Languages Rules, 1976, communications from a Central Government office to a State or Union Territory in Region "C" or to any office (not being a Central Government office) or person in such State shall be in English," Jaya said in her letter.

Meanwhile, Mayawati said that the Centre should take interest in regional languages as well.

"It is good that the Centre is encouraging the use of Hindi language. But our country has rich heritage of regional languages. The Centre must pay its attention towards them as well," said Mayawati.

Amid criticisms over its order of asking bureaucrats to use Hindi language for tweeting and posting comments on social media outlets, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Thursday clarified its order and said it  is committed to promote all languages of the country.

"The Home Ministry is of the view that all Indian languages are important. The Ministry is committed to promote all languages of the country," tweeted the MHA.

According to reports, the ministry had issued an order last month and asked its officials to use Hindi language to tweet or post comments on official social social media accounts.

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) chief M Karunanidhi criticized the move.

He said Modi and his government should focus on development of the country rather than on promoting Hindi language.