Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) MP Kanimozhi on Tuesday strongly condemned Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan for his “abusive” and “undemocratic” remarks made in the Lok Sabha and demanded an official apology. She also accused the central government of withholding crucial education funds meant for Tamil Nadu’s children, linking them to the state’s acceptance of the National Education Policy (NEP) and the three-language formula.
Speaking on the issue, Kanimozhi, who represents the Thoothukudi constituency in Tamil Nadu, accused the Union government of trying to impose its policies on the state at the cost of children’s futures. “The Union government is withholding money that rightfully belongs to Tamil Nadu, demanding that we sign the three-language policy and the NEP. This is an attack on the education and future of our children. They have no right to withhold these funds,” she said.
Kanimozhi expressed outrage over Pradhan’s remarks, in which he allegedly called the Tamil Nadu government “dishonest” and described the people of the state as “uncivilised.” “This is not the language we expect from a Union Minister. It’s undemocratic, unacceptable, and we demand an immediate apology for his remarks,” she added.
The controversy erupted during a parliamentary discussion on the Union government’s decision to withhold over ₹2,000 crore in funds for Tamil Nadu’s schools. The funds were reportedly made conditional on the state’s acceptance of the NEP and the three-language policy — a move that Tamil Nadu has consistently opposed, viewing it as an attempt to impose Hindi on the state.
Though Pradhan later withdrew his comments, the DMK condemned his words as “undemocratic and unparliamentary.” Kanimozhi also emphasized that the Tamil Nadu government, led by Chief Minister MK Stalin, had made its opposition to the NEP clear from the beginning. She pointed out that Stalin had already communicated the state’s concerns in writing to both the Prime Minister and the Education Minister, urging the release of funds without attaching them to policy acceptance.
In response to Pradhan’s remarks, Kanimozhi filed a breach of privilege notice against the Union Minister. DMK MPs, dressed in black as a mark of protest, staged demonstrations in the Parliament complex, demanding both an apology and the immediate release of funds for Tamil Nadu’s education sector.
The issue escalated further when Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin accused Pradhan of “arrogance” and “insulting the people” of the state. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Stalin likened Pradhan’s tone to that of an “arrogant king” and called for him to be “disciplined” for his disrespectful comments.
As the political tension grows, the DMK’s protests and calls for accountability continue, with the party standing firm against what they see as the Centre’s attempts to enforce policies that undermine Tamil Nadu’s linguistic and cultural identity.