Speaker allows MLA to speak in Hindi in Odisha Assembly

Odisha Assembly Speaker Niranjan Pujari today allowed a Congress MLA to speak in Hindi along with Odia, though earlier in the week he had disallowed him from making a statement in that language.

The law-maker from Parlakhemundi, Kengam Surya Rao, was not allowed to speak in Hindi on June 16 when he attempted todraw attention of the government to the alleged non-disbursement of assistance to the cyclone Phailin-hit farmers in his constituency. "Though the Speaker did not allow me to speak in Hindi on June 16, today there was no objection. I spoke both in Hindi and Odia language," Rao told PTI adding a member can speak either in Odia, English or Hindi as per his choice in the House as per the Rule-186 of the Rules of Business of Odisha Legislative Assembly.

The MLA said that he was denied to speak in Hindi as not many members in the Assembly spoke that language. Therefore, there was no translator or reporter in Hindi language in the
assembly to record the statements or speeches, he said. 

Speaking on the matter, former Speaker Sarat Kar told reporters that the Assembly was not equipped to translate speeches or comments made in Hindi. In the past, there were members who spoke in Hindi.

Odisha Assembly "ban" on Hindi shocking, says Shiv Sena
BJP ally Shiv Sena today jumped into the controversy ignited by the Union Home Ministry issuing directives on use of Hindi language, saying reports of Hindi being "banned" in Odisha Assembly are shocking. "In Odisha legislature, the Speaker instructed that Hindi not be used. He told a legislator not to speak in Hindi. English is accepted as a substitute for Oriya language but not Hindi," an editorial in Sena mouthpiece "Saamana" said. "PM Narendra Modi has given Hindi a place of pride. He also addressed Bhutan Parliament in Hindi. At a time when Hindi is being given such importance, reports that there is a ban in Odisha Assembly on speaking in Hindi and asking questions in Hindi are shocking," it said. "If Narendra Modi as the PM does not promote Hindi then who else will," it said. "Agreed that English is a global language. But is it justified to give a secondary status to national language Hindi," the editorial asked. Read more