Chennai:
The battle between Tamil Nadu’s ruling DMK and the BJP – over the centre’s three-language coverage and the ‘imposition of Hindi’ – ramped up Tuesday after Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin mentioned “states that settle for Hindi lose their mom tongue” and that his state is prepared for a ‘language struggle’.
Mr Stalin additionally doubled down on Chief Minister MK Stalin’s “blackmail” swipe at Union Schooling Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, stating the state is simply demanding its due, each by way of central authorities funds for training and cash due from devolution of taxes.
The Tamil leaders’ counterattacks adopted Mr Pradhan declaring the state wouldn’t obtain round Rs 2,400 crore in funds for the continuing Samagra Siksha mission, except it adopts the Nationwide Schooling coverage in its entirety.
Tamil Nadu has traditionally had a ‘two-language’ coverage, i.e., it teaches Tamil and English, and witnessed large anti-Hindi agitations within the Nineteen Thirties and Sixties.
‘Solely Asking For Our Cash’
“We’re solely asking for our tax cash and our rights. We’re asking for cash that’s rightfully ours… Dharmendra Pradhan overtly threatened us that funds can be launched provided that we settle for the three-language method. However we aren’t asking to your father’s cash… we aren’t begging.”
Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin says, “I’ve come right here to protest towards the Union Authorities to avoid wasting the training and language of our state. I’ve not participated as a Dy CM; I’ve participated as a DMK youth wing cadre. Within the Union finances 2025, UP and… pic.twitter.com/A5Ib3bSPTy
— ANI (@ANI) February 18, 2025
“We’re asking for our due share. And when you (the BJP) suppose you may threaten us… it can by no means occur in Tamil Nadu,” Mr Stalin mentioned at a DMK-led protest rally in Chennai. “The folks of Tamil Nadu are watching. They may give a becoming reply on the applicable time.”
Mr Stalin additionally reminded the BJP “it is a Dravidian land… the land of Periyar” and mentioned, “The final time you tried to remove the rights of the Tamil folks, they began ‘GoBackModi’. In the event you attempt once more… this time the voice will probably be ‘Get out, Modi’… agitation will probably be completed to ship you again.”
#WATCH | Chennai: Tamil Nadu Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin says, “…We aren’t taking part in divisive politics. The Union Authorities, BJP is attempting to power Hindi on us…Please do not impose 3-language coverage.” pic.twitter.com/k42k1KFO1X
— ANI (@ANI) February 17, 2025
The Deputy Chief Minister additionally warned the Tamil folks towards the three-language method or accepting Hindi, saying, “Dharmendra Pradhan asks, ‘why is Tamil Nadu alone opposing this whereas all different states have accepted?’ There’s a cause… a number of states that accepted Hindi stand to lose their mom tongues… Bhojpuri, Bihari, Haryanvi have practically died due to infiltration by Hindi.”
‘Sure Situations To Be Met’
The three-language coverage is a long-standing flashpoint between southern states and the centre, and that animosity has elevated since a brand new Schooling Coverage was introduced 5 years in the past; as a part of a proposed revamp, below the NEP college students should study three languages, considered one of which will probably be Hindi.
That flashpoint appeared evident in Mr Pradhan’s feedback in Varanasi final week. He accused the Tamil Nadu authorities of not imposing the coverage “due to political pursuits” and mentioned the centre is “dedicated” to the coverage, to which “… there are specific situations to be met”.
Nevertheless, amid Tamil Nadu fury over Mr Pradhan’s remark, his colleague, junior Parliamentary Affairs Minister L Murugan, who’s from the southern state, mentioned the Schooling Minister had connected no situations to grants from the centre, and slammed the DMK for politicising this difficulty.
BJP’s 3-Language Marketing campaign
The BJP, in the meantime, has stepped up its three-language push within the state, which can vote in an Meeting election subsequent 12 months. The saffron celebration will launch a marketing campaign from March 1.
READ | BJP To Launch Marketing campaign On 3-Language Coverage In Tamil Nadu
The BJP’s push has been seen as a part of its ongoing scramble for a foothold within the Tamil Nadu political panorama. The celebration has traditionally by no means managed to win over Tamil voters.
In 2016 it contested all 234 seats however gained zero. It set its sights decrease in 2021, contesting simply 20, however managing to win 4. Its Lok Sabha ballot file is worse – zero seats within the 2019 and 2024 polls.
Forward of the marketing campaign launch and the 2026 election, the celebration’s state unit chief, Ok Annamalai, has additionally hit out on the DMK, accusing it of sticking to an “outdated” coverage from the Sixties.
“The world is growing quickly. And what’s the level of imposing your outdated coverage of the Sixties on the kids of Tamil Nadu?” he mentioned
With enter from companies
NDTV is now accessible on WhatsApp channels. Click on on the hyperlink to get all the newest updates from NDTV in your chat.