In a controversial comment, BJP Chief Minister of Tripura, Biplab Kumar, has said that those who oppose Hindi as India's national language have no love for the country. His comments come days after Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that Hindi can unite the nation.

"I support Hindi as the national language, given that most of the people of our country speak it. Had the Britishers not ruled India for two centuries, there would have been no use of English language for official purposes," the saffron leader has been quoted as saying.

The Tripura CM's statements have come in for sharp criticism. "How can opposition to the imposition of Hindi be seen as an ungrateful act? If what the BJP CM is saying is to be held against several patriotic leaders, everyone would look like anti-nationals," a Twitter user commented.

On his part, Biplab also said that he doesn't support the imposition of Hindi.