New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday lauded the Tamil language and culture saying “Tamil language is eternal, Tamil culture global and the government is fully committed to popularising the language.”
He was speaking in Chennai at an official program in which he inaugurated 11 projects worth over Rs 31,500 crore in the state of Tamil Nadu.
Modi’s comments lauding the Tamil language came after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, sharing stage with the Prime Minister, made a pitch for Tamil in the program and asked the Prime Minister to make it an official language in offices of the government of India and at the Madras high court.
“The people, culture and language of Tamil Nadu are outstanding. Tamil language is eternal, Tamil culture is global,” the Prime Minister said.
Further, the Prime Minister added that the government of India is fully committed to further popularising Tamil language and culture.
“In January this year, the new campus of Central Institute of Classical Tamil was inaugurated in Chennai. The new campus is fully funded by the Union government,” he said.
He said that from Chennai to Canada, from Madurai to Malaysia, from Namakkal to New York, from Salem to South Africa… the occasions of Pongal and Puthandu are marked with great fervour.
Chief Minister MK Stalin put forth four main demands to the Prime Minister during the event, which included retrieval of Katchatheevu island from Sri Lanka, passing of the anti-NEET bill, clearance of GST dues and making Tamil an official language in Union government offices and in the Madras High Court.
“People of Tamil Nadu play a crucial role in India’s development. Our state is a pioneer not only in economy but also in social justice, equality, women empowerment. Tamil Nadu is a state for inclusive growth. This is what we call the dravidian model,” he said.
The Chief Minister listed out the demands before the Prime Minister thereafter.
I appeal to you to consider them favorably as early as possible, he added.
During his address, Prime Minister Modi talked about the success of various government schemes and said that the government is working to achieve 100 per cent saturation and complete coverage of welfare schemes including housing, water, financial inclusion.
The projects inaugurated by the Prime Minister in Chennai are considered to be a step towards boosting infrastructure development, enhancing connectivity and giving an impetus to ease of living in the region.
These projects will also help significantly improve socio-economic prosperity in the region, have a transformative impact on several sectors and also help create employment opportunities, the PMO added.
