Amit Shah's Malayalam Response to Kerala MP Stirs Language Debate Ahead of Assembly Elections
Image Source: Internet
Union Home Minister Amit Shah's response to Kerala MP John Brittas' letter on Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) registration has sparked a heated debate over language policies in the country. In a rare move, Shah replied to Brittas' letter in Malayalam, raising eyebrows and stirring concerns about the Centre's stance on language. Brittas, a Rajya Sabha MP from Kerala, had written to Shah on October 22 expressing concerns over the August 2025 notification that introduced 'chargesheeting' as a ground for cancelling OCI registration. He argued that cancelling OCI status without a judicial finding violates the presumption of innocence, upheld in Indian jurisprudence. Shah's response, which came on November 14, has left Brittas and many others in Kerala stunned. The MP said, "I have never seen this before. His replies are usually in English or in Hindi." The unusual choice of Malayalam comes months before the April 2026 Kerala Assembly elections, amid a long-standing debate over "Hindi imposition" in Southern states. The Centre's move has reignited tensions over language policies in India. Kerala Education Minister V. Sivankutty had previously criticized the National Council of Educational Research and Training's (NCERT) decision to give Hindi titles to English-medium textbooks, saying it undermines linguistic diversity. Tamil Nadu has also repeatedly opposed what it calls "Hindi imposition," criticizing proposals to expand Hindi usage in competitive exams and central recruitments. Shah has previously stated that there is no conflict between Hindi and other Indian languages, calling Hindi a "companion" rather than a rival. He has urged leaders to communicate with him in their regional languages and advocated for the use of Hindi in domains like science, law enforcement, and the judiciary. The language debate is far from over, with many in the country watching with interest to see how the Centre's stance evolves in the coming months.
