LIC website reduced to propaganda tool for Hindi imposition, says TN CM MK Stalin
LIC says 'technical problem' in shuffling language
New Delhi, Nov 19: Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) on Tuesday said its website was not shuffling language pages due to some "technical problem", and the issue has been resolved.
The use of the Hindi language on the home page of LIC had kicked up a storm earlier in the day, with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin saying that the website has been reduced to a propaganda tool for imposing Hindi.
In a post on X later in the evening, LIC regretted the inconvenience to the users of its website and cited technical glitches which stopped the shuffling of the language.
"Our corporate website was not shuffling the language page due to some technical problem. The issue is resolved now, and the website is available in English/Hindi language," LIC said.
Posting a screenshot of the LIC of India webpage containing Hindi, the Tamil Nadu chief minister said in a post on social media platform X: "The LIC website has been reduced to a propaganda tool for Hindi imposition. Even the option to select English is displayed in Hindi".
This, Stalin claimed, was nothing but cultural and language imposition by force, trampling on India's diversity.
Terming the move as a "blatant imposition" of Hindi on other language-speaking people, BJP's ally and PMK founder Dr S Ramadoss, said this attempt by LIC is highly condemnable as it was trying to "push" a language among the non-Hindi speaking people.
"Giving sudden priority to Hindi alone is not acceptable as the LIC has a customer base drawn from the people from diverse languages in India," Ramadoss said in a post on X.
The home page of LIC should immediately be changed to English, and a Tamil version website should be started, he said.
AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami flayed the LIC for making it all Hindi and said the revamped website was currently unusable for people who did not know that language.
"The language change option on the website is also in Hindi and is not possible to find it. It is reprehensible that the central government is going to any extent in imposing Hindi," he said on X.
The LIC website has been reduced to a propaganda tool for Hindi imposition. Even the option to select English is displayed in Hindi!
— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) November 19, 2024
This is nothing but cultural and language imposition by force, trampling on India's diversity. LIC grew with the patronage of all Indians. How… pic.twitter.com/BxHzj28aaX
Our corporate website was not shuffling the language page due to some technical problem. The issue is resolved now, and the website is available in English/Hindi language. Inconvenience caused is deeply regretted.
— LIC India Forever (@LICIndiaForever) November 19, 2024
-Team LIC
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London, Nov 22: A bomb disposal squad deployed as a “precaution” to the South Terminal of Gatwick Airport concluded an investigation into a "security incident" on Friday after making a “suspect package” safe.
The South Terminal of Gatwick Airport, the UK's second busiest airport after Heathrow, which was briefly shut owing to the incident reopened following the incident.
The Gatwick is around 45 km south of London.
Two people detained during the enquiries have since been allowed to continue their journey as the airport was opened.
“Police have concluded their investigation into a report of a suspect package at Gatwick Airport. Officers from the EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team made the package safe, and the airport has been handed back to its operator,” Sussex Police said in an updated statement.
“Two people detained while enquiries were ongoing have subsequently been allowed to continue their journeys. There will remain an increased police presence in the area to assist with passengers accessing the South Terminal for onward travel,” the statement added.
Earlier on Friday, the incident caused severe disruption at the busy airport’s South Terminal, while the North Terminal of Gatwick Airport remained unaffected.
“Police were called to the South Terminal at Gatwick Airport at 8.20 am on Friday (November 22) following the discovery of a suspected prohibited item in luggage,” a Sussex Police statement said.
“To ensure the safety of the public, staff and other airport users, a security cordon has been put in place whilst the matter is dealt with. As a precaution, an EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team is being deployed to the airport. This is causing significant disruption and some roads around the South Terminal have been closed. We’d advise the public to avoid the area where possible,” it said.
Footage on social media taken outside the airport showed crowds of frustrated travellers being moved away from the terminal building.
Gatwick said it was working hard to resolve the issue.
“A large part of the South Terminal has been evacuated as a precaution while we continue to investigate a security incident," the airport said in a social media post.
“Passengers will not be able to enter the South Terminal while this is ongoing. The safety and security of our passengers and staff remain our top priority. We are working hard to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.”
Train and bus services that serve the airport were also impacted while the police carried out their inquiries.
In an unrelated incident in south London on Friday morning, the US Embassy area in Nine Elms by the River Thames was the scene of a controlled explosion by Scotland Yard dealing with what they believe may have been a “hoax device”.
“We can confirm the 'loud bang' reported in the area a short time ago was a controlled explosion carried out by officers,” the Metropolitan Police said in a post on X.
“Initial indications are that the item was a hoax device. An investigation will now follow. Some cordons will remain in place for the time being but the majority of the police response will now be stood down,” it added.
