Tripura Leader of Opposition Jitendra Chaudhury today accused the Centre of promoting “linguistic dominance” following remarks allegedly made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah during his visit to the state a day earlier.

Shah had arrived in Tripura on Thursday to inaugurate the Eastern, North-Eastern and Northern Regional Rajbhasha Sammelan at the International Indoor Exhibition Centre in Hapania.

Responding to the Home Minister’s reported comments, Chaudhury — who is also the state secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) — said that while the Official Language Department functions to promote Hindi and there is no dispute over its mandate, any suggestion that languages of the Northeast should adopt the Devanagari script is unacceptable.

He said that as a former Member of Parliament, he had served on the parliamentary committee on official languages and was familiar with its deliberations. However, he claimed that linking the development of regional languages to the adoption of a particular script sends a “disturbing message.”

According to Chaudhury, the Northeast is home to nearly 40 indigenous languages, each with its own history and cultural roots. “Implying that progress or official support depends on adopting Devanagari undermines the rich linguistic diversity of the region,” he said.

He further alleged that such an approach reflects the ideological position of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), and stressed that decisions regarding language and script must rest solely with the respective communities.

Marking International Mother Language Day, Chaudhury reiterated that people must have full freedom to preserve and promote their mother tongues in the script of their choice. “Language is an essential part of identity. Any form of imposition — direct or indirect — will be opposed,” he asserted.