NEW DELHI/ CUDDALORE: The language war between the BJP-led union government and the ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu intensified on Friday. While Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan accused the state government of turning "progressive reforms into threats for politics," Chief Minister MK Stalin dubbed the National Education Policy (NEP) as a tool to promote Hindi and not education.
“I urge the union government not to provoke Tamil people again. Do not throw stones at a beehive. You cannot enter as long as the DMK and I are here,” Stalin said.
In his reply to a letter sent by CM Stalin to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking the release of funds held back by the Centre over the implementation of NEP, Pradhan slammed Stalin for his opposition to NEP 2020 and schemes linked to it, accusing him of having a “myopic vision.”
There is no “question of imposing any language on any state or community,” Pradhan said in his three-page letter to Stalin.
Speaking at an event in Cuddalore on Friday evening, the CM lambasted Pradhan for calling the state’s opposition to NEP as politics.
"The union minister claims Tamil Nadu did not receive Rs 5,000 crore because we did not implement NEP schemes. What will they do if we refuse to pay the taxes collected from Tamil Nadu? Federalism is based on mutual cooperation, which is the foundation of our constitution. Unfortunately, those who do not understand this philosophy are ruling the country today,” he said.
Stalin reiterated that NEP was introduced not to develop education but to promote Hindi.
“As people would oppose direct implementation, they are trying to introduce it gradually. The union minister claims they are developing regional languages, but we know how to develop Tamil. Ask those who lost their mother tongue due to Hindi imposition. Tamil does not need their support for its growth,” he said.
The CM also faulted the centre for withholding funds from Tamil Nadu.
“Through GST, they take all the state’s revenue and refuse to return the rightful share. They are not announcing any new schemes for the state and are even denying funds for joint schemes. Despite these obstacles, we have managed to grow, which has irritated them. Now, they are trying to block our progress by creating new laws,” the CM said.
Stalin stated that the NEP is designed to hinder the educational progress of disadvantaged communities.
“In the name of NEP, they are trying to stop our children from studying, entering schools, and securing jobs, similar to how people were oppressed a hundred years ago. NEP has been introduced to destroy social justice. It will block the progress of BC, MBC, and SC communities,” he said.
In his letter, Pradhan had said, “The continued opposition to NEP for political reasons deprives students, teachers, and educational institutions in Tamil Nadu of the immense opportunities and resources that this policy offers. The policy is designed to be flexible, allowing states to customise its implementation to suit their unique educational needs.”
“Moreover, centrally-supported programmes such as Samagra Shiksha are aligned with NEP 2020. Also, PM SHRI schools have been conceptualised to be NEP exemplar schools,” he said.
“NEP 2020 upholds the principle of linguistic freedom and ensures that students continue to learn in the language of their choice. In fact, one of the core objectives of the policy is to revive and strengthen the teaching of Indian languages, including Tamil, which have been gradually side-lined in formal education over the decades,” Pradhan said.
“Many non-BJP states have implemented the progressive policies of NEP despite political differences. NEP 2020 aims to broaden the horizon, not narrow them,” he said.
Listing out “12 key” reasons for rejecting the NEP, Tamil Nadu Education Minister Poyyamozhi said the state is committed to linguistic identity and federal autonomy.
“Our two-language policy has ensured high literacy and global competitiveness. A third language is an indirect attempt to impose Hindi,” he said