NPCC, NJCF flay Shah’s remark on use of English language

Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) and Nagaland Joint Christian Forum (NJCF) have expressed strong concern over Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s recent remark that “those who speak English will soon be ashamed.” The two bodies, in separate statements, said the comment was alarming and contrary to the spirit of India’s democratic values.
NPCC: In the representation to the president of the All India Congress Committee (AICC), NPCC president and Lok Sabha MP S. Supongmeren Jamir, stated that Shah’s speech, delivered at the Hindi book launch of “Main Boond Swayam, Khud Sagar Hoon” on June 19, 2025, had the potential to undermine the inclusive and diverse fabric of Indian society. Referring to Shah’s statement that “those who speak English will soon feel ashamed” and that “a complete India cannot be imagined through half-baked foreign languages,” Supongmeren said the implications of such a narrative were deeply concerning.
Supongmeren asserted that Nagaland, with 16 major tribes and diverse dialects, relies on English as the primary medium of communication across communities. “Any shift away from English could severely hinder official communication and jeopardise the rights of the people of Nagaland as equal partners in the country’s development,” he stated.
He further said that Shah’s remarks reflect a “disturbing lack of understanding and appreciation for the linguistic diversity that enriches our nation”, he said, adding that whenever a non-secular party is in power at the Centre, they often push agenda that marginalises minority communities and weaker sections, undermining the country’s diversity and inclusivity.
Citing historical parallels, Supongmeren recalled the Janata regime’s attempt under Prime Minister Morarji Desai to curtail the smaller states and Union Territories in the North East and deliberately tried to target religious freedom of minorities, particularly Christians, by introducing the ill-fated ‘Freedom of Religion Bill’.
Supongmeren said it was the intervention of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and the Congress leadership at the time that prevented such moves from taking effect and safeguarded the rights of minorities and regional identity. NPCC urged the AICC president to take cognisance of the issue and ensure that the Union Home Minister’s statement is addressed and corrected in the larger interest of national harmony and unity.
NJCF: Taking note of Amit Shah’s remark, Nagaland Joint Christian Forum (NJCF) stated that such a statement, especially coming from a national leader, risked undermining the foundational values of India’s democratic society– namely, dignity, equality, and respect for diversity.
In a statement issued by NJCF president Rev. Dr. N. Paphino and secretary Rev. Moses Murry, the forum said that English had long served as the official language of Nagaland and was deeply embedded in the state’s educational institutions, legal systems, and churches. It has not only enabled communication among many tribes and dialects but also empowered generations of youth to access opportunities across India and the world, NJCF stated.
While acknowledging the importance of preserving indigenous languages, NJCF asserted that suggesting shame in the use of English was to overlook the bridge it had built between the people of the region and the global community. “Language, in any form, should never be a source of shame, but a vessel of connection, understanding, and growth,” it added.
The forum said that India’s strength lay in its diversity and that the ability to speak multiple languages– including tribal dialects, Hindi, English, and others– is a strength, not a weakness.
Calling on leaders to uphold this diversity and foster unity through mutual respect rather than division through cultural hierarchy, NJCF reaffirmed its commitment to advocating for dignity, justice, and inclusion for all. It added that no individual should be made to feel inferior for the language they speak, and that every language– be it tribal, regional, or global– deserved respect.
NJCF called for building a society where every voice matters and every language finds its place in the fabric of the nation.