Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan are locked in a war of words over the three-language formula under the National Education Policy (NEP), ahead of elections in the state this month.
Stalin criticized the formula, saying it was aimed at imposing Hindi on the people of Tamil Nadu, adding that as long as the DMK was in power, he would not implement it in the state.
“As long as the TDP remains in power, we will not allow the three-language policy in Tamil Nadu,” Stalin told ANI on April 5. “The chances of victory look excellent. We will win all 234 constituencies,” Stalin told ANI on April 5.
The remarks came a day after Stalin responded to Pradhan’s post on X, in which the Union minister defended the three-language formula. The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister said that this policy attempts to dilute India’s linguistic diversity and transform it into a homogeneous and monochromatic “one India” framework.
Pradhan, Stalin’s war of words over the New Economic Policy on X
Pradhan had said that the new policy is a statement of linguistic liberalization and that it does not impose Hindi as one of the languages. “Portraiting multilingualism as a threat is misplaced,” he wrote on X. “The Tamil language does not weaken by learning additional languages; it is enriched when its speakers are multilingual, confident and linguistically proficient.”
However, Stalin rejected Pradhan’s claim that there was no Indian imposition as “patently dishonest”, arguing that linking important education funding to policy compliance removed any real element of choice.
“The claim that there is no ‘imposed Hindi’ is patently insincere,” he said. “When a policy structurally pushes non-Hindi speaking states like Tamil Nadu to adopt a third language with little real choice, and when critical education funding is tied to compliance, it no longer becomes a matter of choice.”
Read also | Education Minister criticizes Stalin for ‘imposing Hindi’, defends three-language formula
Stalin criticizes Center for withholding funds under Samagra Shiksha Scheme
Stalin accused the Center of punishing the state by withholding funds allocated under the “Samagra Shiksha Scheme” because of its refusal to accept what he called the Indian imposition.
“It is nothing short of audacious to illegally withhold a huge amount $2,200 crore under the Samagra Shiksha scheme, effectively penalizing Tamil Nadu for refusing to accept the imposition of Hindi. These are not discretionary grants, but are funds that rightfully belong to the people of Tamil Nadu, and are raised through taxes; “It cannot be used as a weapon of coercion,” the Prime Minister added.
In an interview with ANI, Pradhan hit back at Stalin, saying he was trying to create fear among the people of Tamil Nadu, as politics does not bind Hindi.
“MK Stalin is playing politics. The National Education Policy nowhere says that only Hindi will be taught. In every state, the mother tongue will be taught. In addition, students can choose another Indian language. They just want to create fear. No language is imposed on anyone under any scheme,” Pradhan said.
