India, Feb. 20 -- Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday asserted that the distinct identity of an ethnic group can be safeguarded only when its language is written in a script "originated in this soil", arguing that a foreign script cannot play the same role in preserving cultural and civilisational heritage.

Addressing the joint regional conference on Rajbhasha in Agartala, Shah advocated the adoption of the Nagari script for languages and dialects that do not yet have a definite script. He said several languages of the North-East had embraced Nagari, which, he maintained, had strengthened their identity and culture.

The remarks come amid a political debate in Tripura over the choice of script for Kokborok, the state's second most wi...