Order to rename curd as "Dahi" withdrawn after backlash in Tamil Nadu

Bangalore : Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on Thursday notified that a directive to change the name of curd as "Dahi" has been changed after a backlash was reported from Tamil Nadu's chief Minister and milk producers, who called it an attempt to impose Hindi in non-Hindi speaking states.

Earlier, FSSAI had issued directive asking the Federation of milk producers in Tamil Nadu to change the name on the label of curd packets from Curd in English and Thayir in Tamil to dahi in Hindi. Soon after the announcement, a revolt was seen from the milk producers in Tamil Nadu and later on Friday, FSSAI has announced that it has changed the directive.

According to reports, the milk producers in Tamil Nadu and its neighbouring Karnataka had a registered their complaint with FSSAI claiming that Dahi is a specific word in a specified language for a product and curd is a generic word which can be used in any language.

Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin slammed the directive and called it a conspiracy to impose Hindi in a non-Hindi speaking state. In a tweet, he said: "The unabashed insistences of #HindiImposition have come to the extent of directing us to label even a curd packet in Hindi, relegating Tamil & Kannada in our own states. Such brazen disregard to our mother tongues will make sure those responsible are banished from South forever."

For those who are not aware, Tamil Nadu was among the first states who had also opposed the three-language formula as a part of new education policy introduced by the Centre. Under that the students were required to learn Hindi as their third language.