English not a shame but power: Rahul Gandhi hits back at Amit Shah's remarks, says discouraging it to deny opportunities

Rahul said in a post on ‘X’ every language of India has 'soul, culture, knowledge', which one needs to 'cherish'.

New Delhi: A day after Home Minister Amit Shah claimed that people speaking in English will start feeling “ashamed” soon, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Friday said the language is not an obstacle but a “bridge” that gives every child equal opportunity though the BJP-RSS doesn't want the poor to learn it as it empowers them to ask questions.

He said in a post on ‘X’ every language of India has “soul, culture, knowledge”, which one needs to “cherish”. At the same time, he said there is a need to teach English to every child as it is the “path to an India that competes with the world, that gives every child an equal opportunity”.

During a book launch on Thursday, Shah said, “Remember what I say and listen to me carefully. Time is not far away for a society where people speaking in English in this country feel ashamed. The languages of our country are the jewels of our culture. Without them, we are not Indians...India cannot be imagined with a foreign language.”

Responding to a post asking why should any person in any society feel ashamed for speaking any language or dialect, senior RJD MP Manoj K Jha said, “It should be the duty of every person in public life to help in establishing the 'sisterly' relationship between languages.”

CPI Rajya Sabha floor leader P Sandosh Kumar said Shah’s remark was not about uplifting Indian languages but a “shallow move” to replace English with Hindi, in line with the RSS’s “project of linguistic and cultural domination”.

He said, “this not just a swipe at English but an insult to Tamil, Malayalam, Bengali, Telugu, and every language that does not conform to RSS’ Hindi-Hindu-Hindustan vision…CPI will firmly resist all attempts at cultural bullying and Hindi imposition.”

In his post, Rahul said, “English is not a dam, it is a bridge. English is not ‘shame’, it is power. English is not a chain, it is a tool to break the chains. BJP-RSS doesn't want poor kids of India to learn English because they don't want you to ask questions, move ahead, and become equal. In today's world, English is as important as your mother tongue – because it will provide employment and boost your confidence.”

He also posted a video of his interaction with a group of youth in which he claims that BJP-RSS leaders ask them not to speak in English but Hindi.

It also shows a short clip of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat purportedly saying that he will never use English as well as a list of BJP leaders whose wards studied in foreign institutions like Wharton School, University of London, Oxford, Harvard, University of Leeds and Yale.

“Look at the BJP ministers, they all are going to study in England. English is a weapon. If you have learnt English, you can go anywhere...you can reach America, Japan, you can go anywhere, you can work in any company,” he said.

He claimed, “they are saying it (don't use English) but what is the thought behind it?...they don't want you to enter the board rooms. Why should you get jobs worth crores of rupees? They don't want that...They want SC children to go to SC hostel, they should not learn English. They just want the doors to be closed for you. English will be your biggest weapon because it can take you anywhere.”

Congress General Secretary (Communications) Jairam Ramesh said the Home Minister has made the "most ridiculous of statements. Millions of Indians each speak more Indian languages - in addition to English - than him. He is a disgrace to the position once held by the indomitable Sardar (Vallabhai Patel)."

Shah has "failed singularly in bringing the terrorists who carried out the brutal terror attacks in Pahalgam to justice. These terrorists had reportedly also been involved in terror attacks at Poonch (Dec 2023) and at Gagangir and Gulmarg (Oct 2024)...has failed miserably to restore even a semblance of peace and normalcy in Manipur....All that he has accomplished is to provide guaranteed employment to his son", he added.