Regional Languages Should be Encouraged Too, Says Mayawati

Lucknow: Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati today addressed the debate on the Narendra Modi-led union government's recent efforts to promote Hindi. (Read: After DMK objects, Government clarifies Hindi-first order)

"Encouraging the use of Hindi is good, but our country has a rich heritage of regional languages. That should be encouraged too," she said. (Read Full Text of Jayalalithaa's Letter)

She joins a long line of leaders -- Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa, DMK chief M Karunanidhi and Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah among them - who have spoken out on the issue.  (Amend Tweet-in-Hindi Order, Writes Jayalalithaa to PM)

"Giving relief to the people from price rise should be the prime job of the Modi government. This is our demand," said the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister.

She added, "It seems like the BJP is repeating excuses that the UPA made," on price rise.

Ms Mayawati also quashed speculation that her party may support the Congress-Nationalist Congress Party coalition in Maharashtra for the state assembly polls scheduled later this year.

"We will not support any party in Maharashtra or other states in the assembly elections. We will fight on our own," she said today.

Her comments come a day after media reports claimed Mr Pawar had met her, reportedly to seek her support for the Maharashtra assembly elections.

Mr Pawar has reportedly urged the Congress to replace state chief minister Prithviraj Chavan, preferably with former union home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, say sources.

The NCP chief was hopeful that the support of Ms Mayawati, along with the elevation of Mr Shinde -- both Dalit leaders -- will help the NCP-Congress corner the votes of the community in the assembly elections, said sources. (Top on Congress' To-Do List: Finding a New Maharashtra Chief Minister)

She also termed the union government's decision to replace governors appointed by the earlier UPA regime as "unconstitutional", saying, "we don't agree with this".

The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister also criticised the union government's response to the charges of rape made against minister Nihal Chand Meghwal.

"The case has been unsatisfying and worrying. The Modi-led BJP had talked about women's empowerment and now they are defending a rape accused. People didn't expect this," he said.