'They want to create Hindia': Kamal Haasan on Hindi imposition, opposes constituency delimitation

Actor and Makkal Needhi Maiam chief Kamal Haasan. (Image: ANI)

Actor and Makkal Needhi Maiam chief Kamal Haasan on Wednesday sharply criticized the Centre's push for parliamentary constituency delimitation, warning that it could undermine India's federal structure and diversity.

He also waded into the 'Hindi imposition' battle raging between ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu and BJP-led Centre. He said the delimitation move threatens the inclusive vision for India by promoting a homogenized "Hindia", ANI reported.

"The Centre is trying to make all states speak Hindi and win elections with a majority. Our dream is 'India'... theirs is 'Hindia'," he said at an all-party meeting this morning, after which a resolution on 'Hindi imposition' and delimitation was sent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

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With "Hindia" remark, Haasan echoed MK Stalin's remarks back in 2019. After Home Minister Amit Shah, in a social media post on 'Hindi Diwas', said Hindi is "the one language marking (India's) identity globally", the DMK boss had snapped back, "This is India, not Hindia".

"The issue of parliamentary constituency delimitation based on population is not just a concern for Tamil Nadu; it also affects states like Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Punjab, Odisha, West Bengal, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and the northeastern states," Haasan said at the meeting.

He acknowledged the broad impact the move could have and expressed his gratitude to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin for organising the meeting.

Also Read: CM Stalin's message to PM Modi at all-party meeting: 'Delimitation based on 1971 census only after 2026'

Referring to his earlier remarks, Haasan reiterated his clear stance on the matter: "States that cooperated for national development by controlling population growth should not be punished."

"1976 and again in 2001, despite being from different political parties with different ideologies, the Prime Ministers of those times respected federalism and refrained from redrawing parliamentary constituencies based on population," Haasan stated so as to remind the audience of the past decision made by previous PMs, ANI reported.

Haasan also criticized the Union government for interfering with states' rights. allocating additional funds only to poll-bound states and ignoring Tamil Nadu's rightful share of financial resources. He also accused the government of attempting to impose Hindi under the guise of a "three-language policy" and threatening state governments with financial aid tied to compliance.

"This arbitrary decision is part of that same pattern. The real motive behind this is to consolidate power in Hindi-speaking states and ensure a decisive electoral victory," he added.

Haasan also said, "We envision an inclusive India, but they want to create 'Hindia'. Why try to fix something that isn't broken? There is no need to repeatedly disrupt a functioning democracy. No matter how constituencies are redrawn, the onces most affected will always be the non-Hindi speaking states."