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A question on making Hindi an official language at the United Nations saw External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Congress MP Shashi Tharoor trading barbs in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.
Even as Swaraj said India was ready to bear all expenses, if necessary up to Rs 400 crore, to make Hindi one of the official languages of the United Nations but its rules for acquiring such a status prevent the country from doing so, Tharoor sought to know why effort should be made to make Hindi one of the languages in the UN as it is only India’s official language and not the national language.
“If tomorrow someone from Tamil Nadu or from West Bengal becomes the Prime Minister, why should we force him to speak in Hindi at the UN,” he asked. Tharoor also said Hindi is the official language of only one country ~ India ~ while other official languages in the UN are spoken in several countries.
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However, Swaraj countered Tharoor saying he was unaware that Hindi is an official language of Fiji and is also spoken widely in Mauritius, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago and many other countries. She called his remark “ignorant”.
According to the UN rules, support of two-third member countries (129 nations) is required out of the total 193 member nations, Swaraj said during Question Hour.
Besides, all member nations will have to bear the cost of making Hindi one of the official languages of the UN.
“It is not difficult to get the support of two-third member nations. But when the issue of bearing the expenses comes, many small nations become hesitant which has led to a big hurdle in making Hindi an official language of the UN,” she said, adding that despite this, the efforts are on.
When a BJP member said that India has to pay Rs 40 crore as cost for making Hindi one of the languages in the UN, the minister said the government is ready to pay “even Rs 400 crore if required” but the world body’s rules do not permit that.
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