Can you speak to me in a language I understand? asked Kanimozhi.
The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday passed the Constitution (124th Amendment) Bill, 2019 to provide 10% reservation to the economically weaker sections in the general category. The bill was supported by MPs from across the party lines who voted in its favour.
Only a handful of members opposed the bill in its current form. DMK MP from Tamil Nadu, Kanimozhi was one such member who spoke passionately on the issue and moved a motion to send it to a parliamentary select committee for scrutiny.
While the motion was rejected, a line by the MP reverberated across the non-Hindi speaking states. In the 12th minute of her speech, the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Harivansh Narayan Singh, interrupted her saying that she had taken twice the time allotted to her.
"Madam, again. Aapko jo samay tha usse doguna aap bol chuki hain (Madam you have spoken for twice the duration of time which was allotted to you)," Singh said.
On this, Kanimozhi replied, "Sir can you speak in a language I can understand?"
Singh then repeated himself in English.
Watch the video here: (Kanimozhi's reply at 11:20)
Kanimozhi's assertion that she does not understand Hindi found many supporters across non-Hindi speaking states, especially in Tamil Nadu as people hailed her for standing up against "Hindi imposition."
However, there were many on Twitter who criticised her for her "arrogance".
Responding to a news report, the Rajya Sabha MP reiterated on Thursday that she does not speak Hindi.
Parliament on Wednesday approved amending the Constitution to provide 10 per cent reservation to general category poor in jobs and education with the government terming the landmark move as 'slog over sixes'.
In the last leg of the legislative process, the bill will now go to the President for approval.
And once it gets his ascent, it will become a law that will give economically weaker sections in the general category 10 per cent reservation in education as well as central and state government jobs.
The Bill was approved after the House rejected a motion moved by Kanimozhi and supported by Left parties for sending it to a parliamentary select committee for scrutiny. Against 18 members supporting, 155 opposed it and one member abstained. The Bill was approved after the House rejected 5 amendments moved by Opposition members.
The quota will be over and above the existing 50% reservation to SCs, STs and Other Backward Classes (OBCs).
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