P Chidambaram Criticizes Hindi Names in Parliamentary Bills: Concerns Over Language Inclusivity in Indian Legislation

P Chidambaram has expressed opposition to the incorporation of Hindi in the naming of the Centre's new Bills.

Senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP P Chidambaram has voiced concern over the increasing use of Hindi words in the titles of Bills introduced in Parliament, describing it as an "affront to non-Hindi speaking people." He stated, "I am opposed to the increasing practice of the government using Hindi words written in English letters in the title of the Bills to be introduced in Parliament. Hitherto, the practice was to write the title of the Bill in English words in the English version and in Hindi words in the Hindi version of the Bill."

Chidambaram questioned the necessity for changing a 75-year practice that had not presented any difficulties. "This change is an affront to non-Hindi speaking people and to States that have an official language other than Hindi," he emphasized in his social media post on X.

He further elaborated that non-Hindi speaking citizens cannot properly identify or pronounce Bills and Acts with titles featuring Hindi words written in English letters. The Congress leader expressed concern that the longstanding promise that English would remain an Associate Official Language might be in jeopardy.

Chidambaram's objections come as the government introduces or prepares to present multiple Bills in Parliament with Hindi names. These include the Sabka Bima, Sabki Raksha Bill aimed at amending insurance laws, the Viksit Bharat - Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill (also referred to as the G Ram G Bill), and the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill.

The Congress party has particularly opposed the proposal to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee scheme with the G Ram G scheme, questioning whether the BJP has issues with the Father of the Nation. In response, the government maintains that the names of G Ram G and other initiatives align with its vision for a developed India by 2047.