Lagatar24 Desk
Chennai: The Hindi imposition debate between Tamil Nadu and the central government escalated further on Thursday, with Chief Minister MK Stalin claiming that forced Hindi adoption in other states had “destroyed 25 native North Indian languages in the last 100 years.” The ruling BJP quickly dismissed his claim as “silly.”
MK Stalin’s Sharp Attack on Centre
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Stalin accused the Centre of pushing a monolithic Hindi identity, which he claimed was responsible for wiping out regional languages in states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
“The push for a monolithic Hindi identity is what kills ancient languages. Uttar Pradesh and Bihar were never ‘Hindi heartlands’… their real languages are now relics of the past,” he said.
He further attacked the Centre for “attacking languages to destroy race and culture,” calling the move a deliberate attempt to suppress regional linguistic identities before the 2026 elections.
Allegations Against the Education Policy
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader also criticized the three-language formula under the National Education Policy (NEP). He alleged that Tamil was not given equal importance, while Sanskrit was being prioritized in most states.
• “Tamil is not taught anywhere except in the Andamans. There are no Tamil teachers in Kendriya Vidyalayas,” he claimed.
• Stalin also questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asking how many Tamil-language signboards were displayed at the Maha Kumbh and Tamil Sangamam events in Varanasi.
He further criticized the Centre for replacing Urdu teachers with Sanskrit teachers in Rajasthan schools and claimed Hindi had erased languages like Bhojpuri, Bundeli, Kumaoni, and others across North Indian states.
Centre’s Response: “False Narrative”
The BJP hit back at Stalin’s claims, with Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan accusing the DMK of “twisting facts for political gains.”
• “Nowhere in the NEP have we suggested that Hindi will be imposed in any state. Tamil Nadu’s leadership is creating an unnecessary political issue,” Pradhan told NDTV.
• He also revealed that Tamil Nadu had initially agreed to implement the NEP but later backtracked for political reasons.
Standoff Over Education Policy Funding
The language war between Tamil Nadu and the Centre intensified after Pradhan warned that the state could lose ₹2,400 crore in education funds if it does not fully implement the new education policy.
Stalin and Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin called the move “blackmail,” warning the Centre that Tamil Nadu is ready for another ‘language war’ if needed.
BJP Leader Joins Actor Vijay’s Party
Amidst this row, Tamil BJP leader Ranjana Natchiyaar resigned from the party and joined actor Vijay’s newly launched Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam.
Vijay, in a bold statement, accused both DMK and BJP of staging the confrontation over NEP and language policiesfor political mileage ahead of the elections.
