Tamil Nadu BJP president K. Annamalai has accused certain political parties of creating “unnecessary controversy” and attempting to divide the nation along linguistic lines. His remarks appeared to target the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), which has raised concerns over the Union government’s push for Hindi in non-Hindi speaking states.
“Some political parties still want to divide our country based on language. The mother tongue is important for everyone. Mahakavi Bharati called Tamil the greatest language after mastering more than 10 languages. People should be encouraged to study more languages,” Annamalai said during a visit to Prayagraj, speaking to ANI.
Annamalai’s comments come after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK leader M.K. Stalin wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, protesting the release of ‘Samagra Shiksha’ funds. The letter was a response to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s statement that the funds would only be disbursed once the three-language policy of the National Education Policy (NEP) is implemented in the state.
The Tamil Nadu BJP leader clarified that no student would be forced to learn a specific language. Instead, students would have the freedom to choose one language of their preference. “The NEP emphasizes studying one Indian language, and it could be any language. In Tamil Nadu, students could even opt to study another Dravidian language,” he said, dismissing the ongoing controversy as politically motivated.
The DMK-led government in Tamil Nadu has consistently criticized the Centre’s stance on the imposition of Hindi in the state, claiming that the Centre is withholding funds needed to implement the NEP. However, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan strongly rejected these allegations, labeling them as “imaginary concerns.”
Pradhan emphasized that the NEP does not advocate the imposition of any language, particularly Hindi, in Tamil Nadu or any other state. “The NEP does not recommend the imposition of any language on students. It’s about fostering linguistic and cultural heritage across states like Tamil Nadu,” he said.
Pradhan further underscored that the NEP aims to elevate India’s education system to global standards while keeping it rooted in Indian culture. He also highlighted that entrance exams by the Government of India are conducted in 13 major languages, including Tamil.