Chennai: Strongly opposing the Centre's move to label curd as 'Dahi' in Hindi and use the mother tongue of its name in 'brackets'in curd sachets, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK President M.K.Stalin termed it as an attempt to imposition of Hindi in non-Hindi speaking southern states and said such brazen disregard to mother tongue will make sure that those responsible are banished from South forever.
In a series of tweets, tagging a newspaper clipping published in Bengaluru newspaper on the matter, he said, "The unabashed insistence of #HindiImposition have come to the extent of directing us to label even a curd packet in Hindi, relegating Tamil & Kannada in our own states."
Also in a Tamil tweet, he said "none should have this cunning act of pinching the child. Before they can play the cradle (to put the child to sleep), they will be lost", he added.
"Respect the people's sentiments', Mr Stalin said.
"FSSAI, which is asking us to keep aside our mother tongue, should listen to us who are saving the mother tongue", he added.
The article publihsed in Bengaluru paper said the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has directived the non-Hindi speaking southern states to label curd as 'Dahi" prominently in the curd sachets and use Tamil equivalent "Thayir" and Kannada equivalent "mosaru" in brackets.
Tamil Nadu Milk and Diary Development Minister S.M.Naser had earlier opposed it and said it would not be allowed in the State. (UNI)