Following Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s remarks, Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin reiterated his party’s firm stance against the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the three-language policy. Stalin emphasized that Tamil Nadu would never accept the policy.
“We are demanding our financial rights, which should be granted to the people of Tamil Nadu, including educational funds for students. In the past, we were allocated Rs 2,150 crore for education, but now, they are asking us to accept the NEP and the three-language policy,” Stalin said.
He reiterated Tamil Nadu’s long-standing opposition to the three-language policy. “Tamil Nadu has always opposed this policy, and we have made it clear that we will never accept it,” he stated.
Stalin also stressed the significance of language rights in Tamil Nadu, a state with a strong history of sacrifices made for linguistic issues. “People in Tamil Nadu have given their lives for language rights. What politics is there in this? It’s clear who is playing politics,” he added.
With the 2026 elections looming, the battle between the DMK and BJP is intensifying, particularly around the debate over language policies and the allocation of funds to Tamil Nadu.
Earlier, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan criticized a letter from Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of raising “imaginary concerns” driven by political interests. Speaking at a press conference, Pradhan clarified that the NEP 2020 does not impose any language on any state.
“The NEP does not recommend the imposition of any language on the students of any state, including Tamil Nadu,” Pradhan said. He further emphasized that the essence of the NEP is to elevate India’s education system to global standards while maintaining a strong connection to Indian roots.
“The NEP is intended to promote the linguistic and cultural heritage of states like Tamil Nadu. The government is conducting entrance exams in 13 major languages, including Tamil,” Pradhan pointed out.
He also highlighted PM Modi’s commitment to Tamil culture, noting the establishment of India’s first Thiruvallur cultural center in Singapore to promote Tamil thought globally. “This reflects our commitment to Tamil culture. Successive governments have followed a language policy in education since 1968. Not implementing the NEP 2020 deprives students, teachers, and parents of global opportunities. Education should not be politicized. Even many non-BJP states are implementing the NEP with the Centre’s cooperation,” Pradhan said.
The controversy began when Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin sent a letter to Prime Minister Modi, raising concerns about the release of ‘Samagra Shiksha’ funds. In his letter, Stalin questioned Union Education Minister Pradhan’s statement that Tamil Nadu would not receive these funds unless the state adopted the three-language policy outlined in the NEP 2020.
