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Politics
Kerala protests Centre’s alleged push to make Hindi mandatory after NCW conclave
✍️ Indian Express
🗓 11 Sep 2026, 09:49 AM
👁 28
Following a National Commission for Women conclave in Delhi, Kerala political leaders and civil society staged protests, accusing the Centre of imposing Hindi on the state.
The National Commission for Women (NCW) held a high‑profile conclave in Delhi this week, during which the central government reiterated its emphasis on Hindi as the official language for certain administrative communications. The remarks sparked immediate backlash in Kerala, where state leaders and activists view the move as an attempt to undermine the primacy of Malayalam.
Kerala’s opposition parties organised rallies in major towns, demanding that the Centre respect the linguistic rights guaranteed by the Constitution. They also called for a clarification from the Ministry of Home Affairs on whether any new language directives would affect state administration.
The state’s chief minister responded that the government would consult with the Centre to ensure that any language policy does not infringe on Kerala’s cultural autonomy. Meanwhile, the NCW has not issued a separate statement on the language issue, focusing instead on its agenda of women’s safety and empowerment.
Analysts note that language politics often surface during national events, and the current episode could reignite debates about federalism and regional identity across India.
Kerala’s opposition parties organised rallies in major towns, demanding that the Centre respect the linguistic rights guaranteed by the Constitution. They also called for a clarification from the Ministry of Home Affairs on whether any new language directives would affect state administration.
The state’s chief minister responded that the government would consult with the Centre to ensure that any language policy does not infringe on Kerala’s cultural autonomy. Meanwhile, the NCW has not issued a separate statement on the language issue, focusing instead on its agenda of women’s safety and empowerment.
Analysts note that language politics often surface during national events, and the current episode could reignite debates about federalism and regional identity across India.