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India to take quick action to get official status for Hindi at U.N.

— Photo: PTI

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh reading out a message via video conference from New Delhi to delegates at the inauguration of the 8th World Hindi Conference at the U.N. headquarters in New York on Friday.

New York: India has said it will take quick and focussed action on the recommendations of the 8th World Hindi Conference and make immediate diplomatic moves to seek the status of official language for Hindi at the United Nations.

Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma, however, refused to give any timeframe, pointing out that it was a complex issue and involved extensive and intensive consultations with the 192 member states. Indian diplomats would begin holding consultations immediately with the aim of getting the support of two-thirds member states to get the proposal through, he said.

The conference is expected to issue a declaration containing recommendations and views expressed by various participants. Briefing reporters, Mr. Sharma said on Friday India has already made its decision clear at the inaugural function of the Conference at the United Nations which was attended not only by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon but also top U.N. officials and ambassadors of at least 50 countries. He said there is a great significance of organising the inaugural function at the United Nations. It sends a clear signal when more than 1,000 delegates speak with one voice — something which no other country could achieve till date. Besides, the function came weeks before the U.N. General Assembly is due to open its annual session in September, he told reporters. Asked about the cost if the proposal does go through, Mr. Sharma said the prestige of the language cannot be measured in monetary terms. India would do whatever needs to be done. — PTI

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