CHENNAI: A day after a heated exchange in Lok Sabha between DMK MPs and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the National Education Policy (NEP), Chief Minister MK Stalin reiterated on Tuesday that the state would never succumb to pressure by the Union government to implement the three-language formula of the National Education Policy in the state.
Addressing a government function in Chengalpattu district on Tuesday, Stalin criticised the NEP, contending that it not only promotes Hindi and Sanskrit, but affects social justice, fosters privatisation and exclusivity in education, and allowed communal influences to creep into academic institutions.
Recalling the turn of events that unfolded in the parliament on Monday, he said for those who question what a few elected MPs can achieve, the answer was on display in Lok Sabha.
He lauded the DMK MPs for passionately defending the state’s rights and for making Pradhan withdraw his use of an insulting term to refer to the TN MPs.
He accused Pradhan of attempting to “blackmail” Tamil Nadu by making the release of funds of Rs 2,152 crore under Samagra Shiksha scheme conditional upon the acceptance of the NEP.
Stalin reiterated his earlier stance that Tamil Nadu would not compromise on its values even if the centre offered Rs 10,000 crore.
At the event, he announced the establishment of a new SIPCOT park in 800 acres in Cheyyar in the district. Stating that the present government is known for not delaying the implementation of its announcements, he said the the SIPCOT project will also be implemented soon.
He inaugurated 47 completed projects worth Rs 280.38 crore and laid the foundation stones for five new projects valued at Rs 497 crore.
Stalin also recalled the importance Chengalpattu since it was the place where the first conference of self-respect movement happened in 1929 where ‘Periyar’ EV Ramasamy called for measures to equal rights for women.
He said the resolutions of this conference was recalled by late Chief Minister M Karunanidhi in the Assembly in May 1989 when the DMK government he led brought in legislation to provide equal rights for women in family property.