GUWAHATI, April 18 - Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting M Venkaiah Naidu today asserted that an artiste has the right to perform in any Indian language.
The minister was responding to a query from journalists over the recent controversy involving popular singer Zubeen Garg at a Bihu function at Noonmati.
Though he was unaware about the incident, Naidu said �a singer has the right to sing in any Indian language. No one can stop him. However, if there are any local issues, it should be handled by the administration.�
�The government is not imposing Hindi on anyone. We are only creating awareness and we have a constitutional mandate to promote the Rastrabhasha,� said the minister, who had presided over the Joint Hindi Advisory Committee here this morning.
On Friday night, Zubeen Garg walked off the stage in the middle of a show following an argument with organisers of the Noonmati Bihu Sanmilani over performing a Hindi number at the Bihu programme.
Meanwhile, Naidu said Hindi is an important tool and language for the development of nation. The Union Government is using more and more Hindi language in the government programmes and policies.
�We have to make a habit of using Rastrabhasha in day-today life along with regional language. The emotions of a human being can be easily and effectively shared with others in our mother tongue as well as in Hindi,� he said.
