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The Rediff Interview/ Mulayam Singh Yadav

'There's no reason why the PM spoke in English'

Telugu Desam Party leader in the Lok Sabha, Yerran Naidu's contention rang out loud in the imposing Central Hall of Parliament. "William Jefferson Clinton is more popular than any Hollywood star by leaps and bounds."

His former party colleague, now a Congress MP, Renuka Chowdhary, grinned in agreement. Other MPs vigorously nodded their heads and craned their necks in expectation as the US President addressed members of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha in the Central Hall on Wednesday.

When Clinton did arrive, surrounded by his country's secret service agents, the MPs could hardly control their excitement. Clad in a dark blue suit, pale blue shirt and a red tie, the President's debonair visage floored the gathering as their approving glances clearly indicated.

But wearing his customary 'serious' look was Samajwadi Party chief and former Union defence minister Mulayam Singh Yadav. He is one of the very few Indian leaders who has not swapped his dhoti and kurta for the attire which is the 'in thing' among MPs - the safari suit or the bush-shirt over loose trousers.

The Samajwadi Party chief had reportedly let some mediapersons know that he would raise Cain in the Central Hall if Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee replied to President Clinton's address in English instead of Hindi.

In a brief meeting with Tara Shankar Sahay at his Krishna Menon Marg residence, Mulayam talked about this and other issues.

Is it true that you had told some reporters that you would object if Vajpayee replied to President Clinton's address in English instead of Hindi?

I had expressed my feeling that it would be more pertinent for the prime minister of our country to give his speech in Hindi instead of English. Hindi hamari rashtra bhasha hai (Hindi is our national language). Many people had hoped that the prime minister would speak in Hindi at Hyderabad House but he spoke in English. Like other people, I was disappointed. I remember that when Vajpayee was India's foreign minister in the Janata Party government headed by Morarji Desai, he had gone to the United Nations and delivered his speech in Hindi. Vajpayee had then emphasised that since the majority of Indians spoke Hindi, he, as foreign minister, would use the same language.

I don't think Hindi is spoken by fewer people today. In fact, I think more Indians are speaking in Hindi. And there is no reason why the prime minister had to speak in English at Hyderabad House. But I think it is a good thing that he spoke in Hindi in Central Hall. For our American guests including the US President, copies of the prime minister's speech (translated into English) were made available.

What if the insistence of making official speeches in Hindi creates another round of controversy since India takes pride in its unity in diversity?

No. Official speeches are sometimes delivered in Hindi. There is nothing wrong with that. I myself have spoken in Hindi at official functions, even when I was the defence minister. Also, if you are in Madras, leaders speak to the media in Tamil. Similarly, in Bengal, Bengali is used in official functions. But all the same, English translations are made available.

What do you think of President Clinton's reference to India's stance on nuclear non-proliferation and that it should consider the consequences of its actions beyond its boundaries?

I think it reflects the US's earnestness to make India and Pakistan sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and roll back its nuclear and missile programmes. But India has reiterated that its security concerns in the region do not allow it to do what the US is asking. The Vajpayee government has taken a similar stance.

What about Clinton's reference to Kashmir?

He has said that he would be taking up the issue of terrorism with the authorities in Islamabad and I hope he does that.

Are you happy about it?

As far as President Clinton's response to our concern on terrorism in Kashmir is concerned, his statement of raking up the issue with General Musharraf is commendable. But we have to see what Islamabad's response is.

President Clinton has emphasised that he is keen India and the US cooperate in tackling terrorism. Do you think that would discourage Pakistan's role in aiding and abetting terrorism in Kashmir in any way?

I hope President Clinton's pronouncements on Kashmir and terrorism will discourage the perpetrators of carnage. I hope Pakistan will see that it is futile to sponsor terrorism on Indian territory.

CLINTON IN INDIA:The complete coverage

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