Amid ongoing controversy over the three-language policy, Tamil Nadu Minister Palanivel Thiagarajan has criticized the New Education Policy (NEP) 2020, calling its implementation “impossible” due to the lack of adequate funding and infrastructure.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Thiagarajan likened the policy to teaching both kindergarten and higher education students in the same way. He also pointed out the failure of previous education policies due to a shortage of qualified teachers in Hindi-speaking states.
“Even in Uttar Pradesh, they could not fully implement the three-language policy. Yet, they have stopped PM-SHRI funding and continue to speak aggressively, like rowdies. NEP 2020 is like teaching an LKG student and a higher education student in the same way. Implementing the new education policy is impossible today as there is no funding or infrastructure to support it,” Thiagarajan stated.
The remarks sparked a sharp response from BJP Tamil Nadu President K Annamalai, who accused Thiagarajan of hypocrisy. Annamalai claimed the minister’s own sons studied English and a foreign language, questioning why the state government opposed the three-language policy.
In a post on social media platform X, Annamalai wrote, “The two languages his sons learned: First language: English, Second language: French/Spanish. Is this your bilingual policy? We are asking for a national education policy that will provide our government school students with the opportunity to learn a third Indian language, along with Tamil and English, or a foreign language at the higher levels. Why all this drama to stop that?”
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin also weighed in on the issue, denouncing the NEP as a “saffronized policy” designed to promote Hindi at the expense of Tamil Nadu’s education system. Stalin accused the central government of attempting to undermine regional languages and cultural identity.
The central government, however, has defended the NEP, asserting that the policy promotes multilingualism and offers states flexibility in language education. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan dismissed allegations of Hindi imposition and challenged Tamil Nadu’s opposition, sharing documents that he claimed showed the state’s consent to certain aspects of the NEP.
As the debate intensifies, the future of the NEP’s implementation in Tamil Nadu remains uncertain amid fierce political and ideological clashes.
