Must learn Hindi to work in Delhi, BJP councillor tells football coach from Africa

A video of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) councillor Renu Chaudhary allegedly threatening an African national for not learning Hindi has gone viral on social media.

“Hindi nahi seekhi. Kyun nahi seekhi? Agar ek mahine mein Hindi nahi seekhi… toh park cheen lo inse (You haven’t learnt Hindi. Why? If you don’t learn Hindi in a month… then take him off the park),” Ms. Chaudhary can be heard saying in the video, which she uploaded on her Instagram account.

Continuing to address the foreign national, who provides football coaching at a Municipal Corporation of Delhi park in Mayur Vihar Phase I, the councillor from east Delhi’s Patparganj adds, “Yahan ka paisa kha rahe ho to yahan ki bhasha bhi bolna seekho (If you make your living here, you must learn the local language as well).”

A residents’ welfare association member from Vigyapan Lok Apartments, located near the park, said they had repeatedly raised complaints about late-night activities in the park.

“We had raised the issue with the police and the councillor several times about late-night activities by anti-social elements in the park, including drinking, which threaten our safety. We told them that the park should be closed at night,” she said.

The resident added that the coach trains children in football on weekends, but declined to comment on the councillor’s remarks.

Defends remarks

Speaking to The Hindu, Ms. Chaudhary said she had visited the park to address issues raised by residents. “They said the park remains open till late into the night and is not maintained properly,” she said.

Defending her remarks to the coach, the councillor said, “Anyone living and working in the country for years should make an effort to understand and speak the local language, just as we respect rules and language of the land when we go abroad.”