Representative image showing Tamil wirten on a storefront
Credit: iStock Photo
Chennai: Shops and commercial establishments in the Union Territory of Puducherry should display their names in Tamil, Chief Minister N Rangasamy said on Tuesday amid a row over language in neighbouring Tamil Nadu.
In his response to independent MLA G Nehru in the Zero Hour in Assembly, Rangasamy, who heads the N R Congress-BJP coalition, said the government will issue a circular asking traders to ensure that Tamil finds a prominent place on their boards.
"The circular will instruct the traders to display names of their shops in Tamil on signboards,” Rangasamy said. “This decision is out of love and respect for Tamil language,” the Chief Minister added.
The MLA stressed that the government should show no leniency in the matter and ensure that Tamil names are present in signboards. Rangasamy also said he has instructed officials concerned to make sure that invitations for all government functions are printed in Tamil, apart from English.
Rangasamy’s announcement comes a week after state Home Minister A Namassivayam said the UT was planning to implement a three-language formula under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, at a time when Tamil Nadu is opposing it tooth and nail.
In July last year, Tamil Nadu CM M K Stalin on Tuesday nudged shops and commercial establishments in the state to ensure that Tamil, the local language, finds a prominent place on their name boards.
“Nobody should say that they can’t find Tamil on the streets of Tamil Nadu. I urge you to display names of commercial establishments and shops in Tamil,” the Chief Minister had added.
Names of shops on the boards in local language is a must in the state but many establishments don't follow the rule and instead display their name only in English.