India cannot afford language divides, says VP Dhankhar, urges unity for national progress

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Tuesday cautioned that India, as an aspirational nation, cannot afford to be divided on the issue of languages. Speaking at Pondicherry University, he urged citizens to "get over this storm" and focus on unity for the country’s long-term well-being.

Highlighting India’s rich linguistic heritage, Dhankhar emphasized that no other country possesses such diversity, with 11 classical languages including Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Bengali, and Assamese. He pointed out that Parliament allows discourse in 22 languages, symbolizing inclusivity and cultural strength.

Without naming any political parties, the Vice President said opposing languages was counterproductive to the country’s growth. He called on political leaders to rise above confrontation and focus on India’s collective accomplishments and future.

Pushing for full implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, Dhankhar described it as a “game changer” that allows students to unlock their full potential. He urged states that have not adopted NEP to embrace it through workshops and awareness drives to ensure the benefits reach every corner of India.