‘English is not barrier, but bridge’: Opposition criticises Amit Shah for remarks on languages

Several Opposition leaders on Friday criticised Union Home Minister Amit Shah for saying those who speak English in India will soon feel ashamed.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi remarked that English is “not a barrier, but a bridge”, and said that the language provides employment and boosts people’s self-confidence. He alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party and its ideological parent, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, did not want poor children to learn English “because they don't want you to ask questions, move ahead, and assert equality”.

Gandhi said that in today’s world, learning English is as important as learning one’s mother tongue.

अंग्रेज़ी बाँध नहीं, पुल है।
अंग्रेज़ी शर्म नहीं, शक्ति है।
अंग्रेज़ी ज़ंजीर नहीं - ज़ंजीरें तोड़ने का औज़ार है।

BJP-RSS नहीं चाहते कि भारत का ग़रीब बच्चा अंग्रेज़ी सीखे - क्योंकि वो नहीं चाहते कि आप सवाल पूछें, आगे बढ़ें, बराबरी करें।

आज की दुनिया में, अंग्रेज़ी उतनी ही ज़रूरी… pic.twitter.com/VUjinqD91s— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) June 20, 2025

In a similar vein, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam MP Kanimozhi told Shah that “the only thing to be ashamed of is imposing your will on the people and trying to destroy the pluralism of India”.

Kerala Education Minister and Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader V Sivankutty remarked that no language was higher or lower, PTI reported.

“Each language has its own importance,” Sivankutty said. “English, as an international language, is an...

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