Amit Shah Says 'No Language Dispute in Tripura', Reaffirms Parallel Use of Kokborok, Hindi and Bengali

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, February 20, 2026

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday asserted that Tripura has never witnessed any conflict over language, emphasizing that three languages- Kokborok, Hindi and Bengali are functioning in parallel harmony in the state.

He was addressing the Joint Regional Official Language (Rajbhasha) Conference of the Eastern, North-Eastern and Northern regions at the Indoor Exhibition Centre, Hapania, Agartala.

“No Language Dispute in Tripura”

Speaking at the conference, Shah said that despite attempts in different parts of the country to create controversy over Hindi, such campaigns did not harm those who love the language.

“Propaganda was carried out across the country against Hindi, but it has not harmed those who cherish the language,” he stated.

Highlighting Tripura’s linguistic balance, he noted that Kokborok, Hindi and Bengali continue to be used side by side without conflict.

Upon his arrival at Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport, the Union Home Minister was received by Chief Minister Manik Saha, BJP state president and Rajya Sabha MP Rajib Bhattacharjee, former Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb, and Agartala Mayor Dipak Majumder.

The minister later visited various stalls at the Hapania International Fair Ground, where exhibitions were organized to showcase the implementation and promotion of Hindi as the Official Language in central departments and institutions.

During the conference, several central government departments, banks and public sector undertakings were honoured for excellence in implementing Rajbhasha policies.

Urban Official Language Implementation Committees were conferred the prestigious NARAKAS Rajbhasha Samman. The awards were presented by Amit Shah.

Over 3,000 language experts and officials from across the country reportedly attended the conference to deliberate on the promotion of Hindi. A delegation including senior officials from New Delhi and Silchar also visited PM Shri Kendriya Vidyalaya No. 1 at Kunjaban in Agartala to review Hindi teaching methods and Rajbhasha implementation practices.

The event sparked discussions in political and public circles, with some critics pointing out that most materials and proceedings were conducted in Hindi, while a large section of Tripura’s population is more comfortable in Bengali and Kokborok.

Observers also noted that under the Union’s Official Language Policy, English continues to function alongside Hindi for official purposes of the Government of India.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Manik Saha, addressing the gathering, reiterated the state government's commitment to multilingual harmony.

Notably, the Rajbhasha conference was held just a day before February 21, observed as International Mother Language Day and widely commemorated as Bengali Language Day in Tripura and across the region.

The timing of the large-scale Hindi promotion programme has drawn attention, with many watching to see whether similar scale initiatives will be undertaken for the promotion of Bengali and other regional languages.

more news...