Rajinikanth supports Shah's 'one language' policy, but explains the problem

Speaking to reporters at Chennai airport on Wednesday, Rajinikanth said, "A common language in any country will help its unity and development. Unfortunately, it is not possible in India. Not just Hindi, the imposition of any language will not be accepted by states in the south and even some in North India."

He underlined that the Hindi language should not be imposed.

Shah's suggestion for a "wider use" of Hindi language didn't even sit well with Karnataka Chief Minister and BJP leader BS Yediyurappa.

"As far as Karnataka is concerned, Kannada is the principal language. We will never compromise its importance," Yediyurappa, who took office after the untimely collapse of JD(S)-Congress coalition, said.

His Kerala counterpart Pinarayi Vijayan called the claim that Hindi unifies India "absurd".

Separately, actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan also staunchly protested the idea.

He warned that if the Centre goes ahead with any such plan, an "agitation worse that Jallikkattu protest" will be sparked.

"Unity in diversity is a promise we made when India became a republic. Now no Shah, Sultan or Samrat should renege on that promises," the founder of Makkal Needhi Maiam party said on Monday.

On the day when Shah made these remarks, DMK Chief MK Stalin asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to "clarify" and said a language war might start too.

"We have been continuously waging protests against the imposition of Hindi. Today's remarks made by Amit Shah gave us a jolt. It will affect the unity of the country," he had written on Twitter.