Indians will soon feel ashamed to speak in English: Amit Shah amid language debate

Speaking at a book launch event, Shah said the idea of India "can't be imagined" in any "half-baked" foreign language.

"Time is not far when we will exist in a society where people will feel ashamed to speak in English. I believe the languages of our country are the jewels of our culture. We cease to be a true Indian without our languages.

"We can't understand our country, culture and religion in any foreign language. The idea of a complete India can't be imagined in any half-baked foreign language," the Home Minister said.

"We will proudly run our country and lead the world in our own languages. There should be no doubt in it," he added.

Shah's remarks came at a time opposition parties, particularly from the southern part of India, accused the Modi government of imposing Hindi in disguise of National Education Policy or NEP.

The controversy over NEP implementation in Tamil Nadu has intensified, particularly regarding its three-language formula.

Slamming the new education policy, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin said, "The National Education Policy is not education policy... it is a saffronisation policy."

"The policy was not created to develop India... but to develop Hindi. We are opposing this policy as it will completely destroy the Tamil Nadu education system," he said.

The DMK, and its ally, Congress, have argued that Tamil Nadu, the second-largest state economy, has flourished under a two-language system that teaches Tamil and English.

The BJP, though, maintains its formula will benefit Tamil people who travel to other states.

The country's ruling party said no student will be forced to learn Hindi as the third language and has counter-accused the DMK of politicising the language issue ahead of next year's Assembly election.