Necessary to change mindset about Hindi, it's rich langauge: Giriraj Singh

Katihar (Bihar), June 1 (PTI) Union Minister Giriraj Singh Wednesday said the proposed caste census in Bihar must exclude infiltrators like Bangladeshis and Rohingyas, who are not acknowledged to be so because of politics of appeasement . The BJP leader, who was here to take part in saffron party's state executive meeting, said there is need for a strong anti-conversion law, dropping the use of the term 'minorities' and erasing all symbols of oppression by foreign invaders like the Gyanvapi mosque, a religious structure in Varanasi. Singh, who represents Begusarai Lok Sabha seat in the state, told journalists these were his personal opinion on burning issues of the day, in the presence of many party colleagues. The union minister said he fully supported of the state government's move for a caste survey despite the Centre's refusal to conduct one. He was speaking a few hours ahead of an all-party meeting to be chaired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar which would set in motion the state-specific survey of castes. Nonetheless, he added Muslims, who take advantage of reservations for backward classes, must also be covered in the exercise . He cited a petition filed in the 1990s to claim that population of illegal immigrants in 11 Bihar districts was about four lakhs back then and underscored the need for not including them in the exercise, which could grant legitimacy to the infiltrators, who are not called by the name because of politics of appeasement . Be they Bangladeshis, Rohingyas (from Myanmar) or any other type of illegal residents, they must be kept out , said Singh. Known for his hard line Hindutva stance, the union minister also stressed the need for a strong anti-conversion law . He said there is need for redefining the term minorities and even doing away with it in the light of the Narendra Modi government's motto of 'Sabka saath sabka vikas'. Even (Mehmood) Madani has said he does not belong to a minority group , Singh said referring tongue in cheek to the Deoband cleric's recent averment that Muslims should consider themselves to be in — Union Minister Giriraj Singh.

New Delhi: Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Giriraj Singh on Tuesday said it is necessary to change mindset about Hindi and increase its use in official work.

The minister was speaking at a meeting of the Hindi Advisory Committee of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj. Minister of State Kapil Moreshwar Patil was also present.

“We have pledged for a prosperous India by 2047, the prosperity of the nation also lies in the prosperity of its language… Hindi is spoken in 20 countries of the world, it is taught in about 200 universities and 70 crore population of the world speaks Hindi,” Singh said.

Necessary to change mindset about Hindi, it’s rich langauge: Giriraj Singh

Minister was speaking at a meeting of the Hindi Advisory Committee of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj. Minister of State Kapil Moreshwar Patil was also present.