TENKASI/KANNIYAKUMARI: Slamming Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan for levelling allegations against him on social media, Chief Minister MK Stalin openly challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to speak in support of the three-language policy during their upcoming election campaigns in Tamil Nadu.
Campaigning for SPA bloc candidates in Sankarankovil on Saturday, Stalin alleged that the BJP government was imposing Hindi in Tamil Nadu through the recently released CBSE curriculum framework. “The union government has mandated a third language in the state. However, responding to my post on X, Pradhan has accused me of affecting the quality of education in Tamil Nadu by opposing the third language. There is no relation between opposing Hindi imposition and the quality of education. The same minister refused to release educational funds meant for Tamil Nadu. He also called Tamils uncivilised people and later sought an apology in Parliament. I openly challenge whether he, Modi and Shah would dare to speak in support of the three-language policy during their upcoming campaigns,” Stalin said.
The chief minister further alleged that if Edappadi K Palaniswami is voted to power, he would run a proxy government and allow BJP to decide what people should learn and eat in Tamil Nadu. He also alleged that AIADMK did not fulfil its election promises when it was in power. “AIADMK made several promises, including an ECR road from Chennai to Kanniyakumari, mobile phones for ration card holders, and bus passes for elderly people. However, the Palaniswami-led government did not fulfil them,” he said.
SPA candidates Paul Manoj Pandian (Alangulam), Dr Kalai Kathiravan (Tenkasi), E Raja (Vasudevanallur), TM Rajendran (Kadayanallur) and Sangai Ganeshan (Sankarankovil) were present.
Campaigning in Nagercoil, Stalin said the Modi led government had targeted minorities especially Christian-run NGOs by bringing the FCRA (amendment) bill. He said that he was the first in Tamil Nadu to have raised his voice against the bill. “Palaniswami had said during Friday’s campaign that AIADMK would save minorities like eyelids save eyes. Now what would he say for the FCRA bill,” he asked. He listed various fishermen projects implemented in Kanniyakumari district and accused the BJP government of failing to save the rights of fishermen. Stalin said that Modi has no influence even over small countries when dealing with fishermen’s issues.
Candidates R Mahesh (Kanniyakumar), S Austin (Nagercoil), Chella Swamy (Padmanabhapuram),S Rajesh Kumar (Killiyoor), Tharahai Cuthbert (Colachel),TT Praveen (Vilavancode) were present on the stage in Nagercoil.