MK Stalin stings back at centre over NEP Language row
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin intensified the language row on Friday. He responded to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s call to “rise above politics.” Stalin reaffirmed the state’s two-language policy and warned the Centre against “throwing stones at a beehive.”
Pradhan had advised Stalin after the latter wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Stalin opposed linking two centrally sponsored programs with the National Education Policy (NEP). Pradhan urged Stalin to think about young learners instead of political differences.
The ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) refuses to implement NEP’s three-language policy, which includes Hindi. The party accused the Centre of withholding state funds over the issue. Stalin declared he would not allow actions that harm Tamil language, Tamil Nadu, or its people.
The Centre and Tamil Nadu remain at odds over NEP. Pradhan denied DMK’s claim that the policy imposes Hindi. Stalin, however, accused Pradhan of politicizing education. “Isn’t withholding funds unless we accept the trilingual policy political? Isn’t imposing Hindi through NEP political? Isn’t pushing a single-language nation political?” he asked.
Stalin issued a stern warning: “Don’t throw stones at a beehive. Don’t test the fighting spirit of Tamils. As long as I and DMK exist, Tamil Nadu will resist anti-Tamil policies.”
Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin reaffirmed the state’s commitment to the Tamil-English policy. He said Tamil Nadu was only demanding its rightful share of central funds.
Meanwhile, BJP’s Tamil Nadu unit launched the “#GetOutStalin” online campaign. The campaign, led by state BJP chief K Annamalai, targeted DMK’s alleged governance failures. However, the slogan’s timing linked it to the NEP dispute.
Days earlier, Udhayanidhi Stalin warned the Centre. “If they try to take away Tamil Nadu’s rights, we will launch a ‘Get Out Modi’ campaign,” he said.
The language battle continues to fuel political tensions in Tamil Nadu.
