Seeking to put a lid on the controversy over its two circulars, government today said use of Hindi on social media is only for states speaking the language and is not being imposed on non-Hindi-speaking states.
"Use of Hindi on Government of India's social media platforms is only for Hindi-speaking states... Hindi is not being imposed on non Hindi-speaking states," an official spokesperson said.
"Existing policy on Hindi reiterated for official social media platforms," the spokesperson said.
The clarification came after two Home Ministry circulars seeking to promote official language Hindi in the social media triggered a row with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, two of BJP's allies and DMK opposing it strongly.
Congress and CPI(M) also criticised the move.
The Home Ministry's official language department had issued a circular on May 27 asking all Ministries and Departments, public sector undertakings and banks to give prominence to Hindi on official accounts in social media.
"...All officers and employees who operate official accounts on Twitter, Facebook, Blogs, Google, Youtube should use Hindi and English languages. Prominence should be given to Hindi," Director, official language, Avadesh Kumar Mishra, wrote in the directive.
Another circular had announced prize money of Rs 2,000 to two employees who do their official work mostly in Hindi. Rs 1,200 and Rs 600 will be given to the second and third position holders respectively.
The circulars were slammed by various quarters, particularly Tamil Nadu parties.
