Venkaiah Naidu advises Telangana, Andhra to promote Telugu

Hyderabad, Aug 21 (IANS) Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu on Monday advised both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh to make Telugu the language of administration as well as a compulsory subject for people to get government jobs.

"I am not saying Telugu should be the medium of instruction but everybody should compulsorily study Telugu as a language and as a subject," he said, while speaking at the civic reception hosted by the Telangana government here.

He advised Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao and his Andhra Pradesh counterpart N. Chandrababu Naidu to give priority to Telugu, saying the language of administration should be the one which people understand.

Describing the English language as a "disease", he said it had gripped all. "I know it will not go away easily. Its medicine is also not easy. It has spread like an infectious disease," he said, while clarifying that he is not against English.

The Vice President said some people learn English for fashion but mostly do it to get jobs.

He said he feels that language and sentiments should go together and the language promotes the culture.

Naidu also advised the two Chief Ministers to sort out all the problems between the two states through dialogue.

He hoped that they will work together in strengthening both the states to make them more prosperous.

Naidu noted that while he was born in Nellore and studied in Visakhaptnam, he politically grew up in Hyderabad.

Referring to the rich culture of Telangana, its traditions, festivals and people following different religions, he said the state is often described as "north of south" and "south of north".

"That is the typical nature of Hyderabad and also of Telangana. It's a meeting place of diverse languages," he said, while describing Hyderabad as "miniature India".

"If you keep aside politics and observe people's lifestyle, it may not be an exaggeration to call it mini Bharat," he said recalling his long association with the city beginning in 1978 when he was first elected to the assembly of undivided Andhra Pradesh.

Naidu noted that Hyderabad received global recognition and has special place in the world's development map.

Stating that while the country had developed after Independence, there was a need to ensure that all people become part of the development.

He stressed the need to usher in "Ramarajya" as dreamt by Mahatma Gandhi but clarified that this should not be interpreted as theological rule.

Naidu called upon all political parties, leaders and people's representatives to make every citizen feel that he is part of the development.

"We need to have inclusive growth. We must make efforts to see that everybody feels that he is also part of this development and also has stake in this governance, system and democracy," he said

He said the both house of Parliament, state assemblies and councils should be functional, where people's representatives have meaningful discussions, consensus and make laws for country's rapid development.

Naidu also said there was need to improve the functioning of the legislative bodies. He said the happenings in some state assemblies and in Parliament, especially in Rajya Sabha, caused concern to many.

Quoting former President Pranab Mukherjee, he said discuss, debate and decide but there should be no fourth "d" - disrupt.

"The government should propose. Opposition, if they feel, oppose but at the end of the day let the house dispose either this way or that way. That should be guiding principle. Opposition must have its say and government must have its way. That is the essence of democracy," he added.

Earlier, Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan, the Chief Minister, state ministers and senior officials accorded Venkaiah Naidu a warm welcome on his first visit to the state after assuming office.

Naidu was presented a guard of honour at Begumpet Airport. The Chief Minister felicitated him on behalf of the people of the state and a group of priests blessed him.

Rao later hosted a lunch in honour of the Vice President.