Chennai:
The ‘language war‘ between Tamil Nadu and the centre – the competition that the BJP is attempting to ‘impose Hindi‘ on the southern state within the guise of a Nationwide Training Coverage – continued Wednesday afternoon with Chief Minister MK Stalin calling it a plan to develop Hindi reasonably than India.
Mr Stalin has led the state’s cost; this has included firing sharp assaults on Union Training Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, whom he final month accused of ‘blackmail’ by threatening to withhold funds and this week mentioned was “arrogant” and “acting like a king”; after he used a pejorative to explain Tamilians.
On Wednesday, at an occasion in Tiruvallur, he stepped up his assaults on the NEP, which he referred to as a “saffronisation coverage” and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had, he mentioned, did not develop India.
“The coverage was not created to develop India… however to develop Hindi. We’re opposing this coverage as it can utterly destroy the Tamil Nadu schooling system,” he mentioned, emphasising what he has been saying over the previous fortnight – that the centre denying Rs 2,150 crore in funds for state-run faculties until its schooling coverage is applied quantities to an assault on the nation’s federal construction.
The BJP has not but responded to this newest assault.
READ | “Trying To Turn India Into ‘Hindia‘?” Kamal Haasan Echoes Stalin’s 2019 Jab
in his speech Mr Stalin fired questions at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on this difficulty, claiming the centre is performing “like a dictatorship to destroy the rights of states and the federal construction”.
Tiruvallur | Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin says, “Nationwide Training Coverage is just not schooling coverage; it’s saffronise coverage. The coverage is just not created to develop India however to develop Hindi. We’re opposing the Coverage as it will destroy the Tamil Nadu schooling system utterly…”… https://t.co/X9v9qF3Omu pic.twitter.com/1XQ9dzNmXA
— ANI (@ANI) March 12, 2025
“You mentioned you’ll give significance to states (when Mr Modi was campaigning to grow to be the PM). However what have you ever achieved thus far to present significance to federalism?” he requested, additionally accusing the BJP of taking “political revenge” for electoral defeats in Tamil Nadu in 2021 and 2024.
“We’re asking for our share of taxes… which we paid with our efforts. What’s the downside with this? Is it honest to threaten and never launch funds for the welfare of 43 lakh faculties? As a result of we do not settle for NEP, they’re refusing to launch funds that belong to Tamil Nadu…”
“We might have welcomed NEP if it introduced everybody into schooling (i.e., elevated faculty enrolment) However NEP removes individuals from schooling (i.e., the DMK claims it can disincentive Tamil college students as Hindi can be ‘pressured’ on them’). That’s the reason we’re opposing it…” he mentioned.
‘Hindi Imposition’ In South
The row over ‘Hindi imposition’ – a delicate subject within the south, and notably in Tamil Nadu, the place ‘anti-Hindi’ riots broke out within the Sixties and which has all the time been against the language being foisted on it – re-erupted final month with the BJP pushing its new coverage.
The DMK, and its ally, the Congress, has argued Tamil Nadu – the second-largest state economic system – has flourished beneath a two-language system that teaches Tamil and English.
The BJP, although, maintains its formulation will profit Tamil individuals travelling to different states.
READ | “Suffocating Non-Hindi Speakers”: MK Stalin Doubles Down, BJP Hits Back
It has mentioned no pupil can be pressured to be taught Hindi because the third language, and has counter-accused the DMK of politicising the language difficulty forward of subsequent yr’s Meeting election.
In an unique interview with NDTV final month, Mr Pradhan accused the DMK of making a “false narrative” and depriving college students of educational progress for their very own political ends.
READ | “Creating Anti-Delhi Narrative”: Education Minister Slams MK Stalin
A lot of the ‘language conflict’ face-off between the DMK and the BJP-led centre has revolved round Training Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s declare the Tamil social gathering had final yr agreed to arrange PM SHRI, or Faculties for Rising India, establishments, however later went again on its phrases.
This, Mr Pradhan mentioned in Parliament on Monday, confirmed the DMK to be “dishonest”.
READ | Minister Shares Tamil Nadu Letter On PM SHRI Schools, DMK Says…
In response the DMK filed a privilege movement in opposition to the Union Minister for making “factually incorrect” statements within the Home. DMK MP Kanimozhi mentioned the state had agreed to arrange these faculties however with sure situations that had been, ultimately, not met.
MK Stalin vs Amit Shah
Earlier Mr Stalin and Union House Minister Amit Shah exchanged jabs.
Mr Shah claimed the centre had achieved extra for Tamil audio system than the state social gathering, pointing to a choice to permit candidates for the Central Armed Police Power entrance take a look at to put in writing of their mom tongue. “I need to urge the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu to take steps in direction of introducing the curriculum of medical and engineering programs in Tamil as quickly as doable,” he declared.
It can be crucial, nevertheless, to notice the centre permitted the conduct of CAPF exams in 13 regional languages, in 2023, days after Mr Stalin protested the choice to conduct it solely in Hindi and English.
“This (‘Hindi imposition’) is like an kindergarten student lecturing a PhD holder….” he mentioned.
“Historical past is obvious. Those that tried to impose Hindi on Tamil Nadu have both been defeated or later modified their stance and aligned with DMK (the unstated reference was to the Congress, which was in energy on the centre throughout the anti-Hindi riots of the Sixties and is now a agency ally). Tamil Nadu won’t tolerate Hindi colonialism changing British colonialism,” the Chief Minister had responded.
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