Speaking about the importance of Urdu for the 85 million Indians whose language it was, Ansari said that the future of the language cannot depend on the perception that Urdu is a language that can lead to professional success.
Skirting with another controversy was not what former vice-president Hamid Ansari had on his mind on the 70th anniversary of Independence Day when he decided to attend the launch of Urdu edition of a news portal. And, he stayed away from trouble.
"I have been grilled for my comment, and I do not want to be in fresh trouble," said Ansari. "I don't know why was I labelled as someone (who creates trouble); I'm not." Ansari was speaking to journalist Vinod Dua during the launch of the Urdu edition of the news portal, The Wire.
Ansari's steely resolve to not say anything critical of the government comes days after he spoke in the 25th convocation of the National Law School of India University (NLSIU) in his last speech as the vice-president on August 6. At the convocation, Ansari pointed towards increasing apprehensions about "insecurity among segments of our citizen body, particularly Dalits, Muslims and Christians", and an "illiberal form of nationalism that promotes intolerance and an arrogant patriotism".
Ansari's comments drew sharp reactions from the BJP, including a remark by Prime Minister Modi who, as part of Ansari's farewell speech, said that Ansari was now liberated with the freedom to "think and speak according to (his) core beliefs".
Ansari's successor, current Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu dismissed his claims, saying they were 'political propaganda'. The Shiv Sena and the RSS, too, have derided him for his comments, possibly leading to Ansari's silence on Tuesday.
Speaking about the importance of Urdu for the 85 million Indians whose language it was, Ansari said that the future of the language cannot depend on the perception that Urdu is a language that can lead to professional success.
And, that the Indian freedom struggle was not possible without languages like Urdu and Hindi. "It was in these languages that the first newspapers and periodicals were published. In fact, there was a shair (couplet) by Akhbar Allahabadi during those days — khinchon na kamanon ko na talwar nikalo; jab top muqabil ho to akhbar nikalo (do not pull the bowstrings or take out the swords, if you intend to fight the war publish a newspaper)," said Ansari.
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