LAGATAR24 NETWORK
Ranchi, Feb. 16: Amid the language controversy in Jharkhand, the MLA of the ruling alliance, Deepika Pandey Singh on Wednesday appealed to youths not to be swayed by the divisive agenda peddled in the name of Jharkhandi and non-Jharkhandi language.
Deepika Pandey Singh who is the Congress MLA from Mahagama assembly constituency issued a video statement in this regard and said that many people had called her to express their concern over linguistic frenzy.
“Many people called me after the frenzy being fanned in Jharkhand in the name of the language. I am of the opinion that language is a way of communication, it can’t be a tool to divide us. We are already a poor state and we should focus on creating new opportunities for youths, tribals and moolvasi alike. All of them have equal rights. I especially appeal to youths that they should not be swayed by frenzy,” she said.
Her statement has come in the wake of a series of protests organized across Jharkhand by some individuals and outfits which are opposing official recognition to Bhojpuri, Magahi, Maithili, and its dialect Angika in Jharkhand. Even the state education minister Jagarnath Mahto who used disgraceful words for Bhojpuri, Magahi, and Angika dialect said that the languages from Bihar would not be allowed in Jharkhand.
Currently, the protest is going on against the inclusion of these languages in Bokaro and Dhanbad for recruitment for intermediate-level jobs in these districts.
The Congress is a key partner of the JMM-led government in Jharkhand. Health minister Banna Gupta who is from the Congress extended support to Bhojpuri. But the Congress leadership seems to be evasive to confront the government on the language issue. Nevertheless, MLA Deepika Pandey Singh during the previous assembly session had raised this issue and cautioned the government that such linguistic discrimination will prove detrimental.
