Just because the highways signboard carried Hindi signage, it cannot be treated as Hindi imposition, said Congress MP Karti Chidambaram here on Saturday.
Speaking to reporters, he said that the Tamil Nadu government had suspended two highways officials following reports that they had allowed ‘unauthorised Hindi inscriptions’ on the Nagercoil-Madurai State Highways (SH-93) signage, may not be construed as Hindi imposition.
Plainly speaking, many of the travellers on the highways used Google Maps to reach their destinations. Moreover, for people from other States, such signage would help them to travel without any confusion, he said and added that in Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, there were sign boards in Tamil.
However, he clarified that he was opposed to imposition of Hindi in the State and maintained that Tamil Nadu had been propagating two-language formula and that it shall continue.
On the demand for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, the Congress MP said that he should step down. There have been large scale confusion in the SIR in many States including Karnataka and West Bengal. Hence, in order to set right the records, he should resign and the Congress has been demanding it. Vote theft cannot be allowed, he added.
When asked to comment about DMK president M.K. Stalin’s description of the TVK candidate in the by-poll, Mr. Karti said that generally body shaming should be avoided. At the same time, it need not be a talking point or controversy. Leaders from political parties should speak on issues and avoid personal criticism.
The TVK president C. Joseph Vijay’s address in the by-poll campaigns showed him as a veteran politician, he said and added that he was not sure about the allegations of money distribution in the two Assembly constituencies and also pointed that it was not something new in Tamil Nadu elections.
The no fare travel scheme for women being extended by the TVK government may give rise to more people using public transport. By this, the private vehicles movement may drop and also the congestion experienced in many cities may reduce, he replied.
Published - October 03, 2026 08:24 pm IST