Union Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister M.K. Alagiri, who is in the midst of a controversy over his desire to speak in Tamil in Parliament, on Friday said his “Tamil voice” would “definitely” be heard in the House.
“En Tamil Kural paralumanrathil Nitchayam olikkum (My Tamil voice will definitely be heard in Parliament),” Mr. Alagiri, son of Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, told reporters here.
He was reacting to a query on whether his voice in Tamil would be heard in Parliament at a time when Tamil Nadu government is holding World Tamil Classical Conference at Coimbatore in June.
Article 120 of the Constitution recognises only English and Hindi as the official language in Parliament, but due to language barrier, Mr. Alagiri had sought permission from the Speaker to reply to questions in Tamil in the House.
He has reportedly empowered in writing junior minister Srikant Jena to answer questions in Parliament.
Mr. Alagiri also said MPs from Tamil Nadu including those from Congress, DMK, IUML (Abdul Rahman) and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi had taken their oath in Tamil.
Meanwhile, Madurai wore a festive look with cut-outs and banners carrying Mr. Alagiri’s pictures put up on roadsides to mark his 59th birthday on Saturday.
