Strongly reacting to Union Minister for Education Dharmendra Pradhan’s comments on Tamil Nadu’s position against the National Education Policy and the three language formula, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Sunday (February 16, 2025) observed that Tamils would not accept brash blackmail and that Delhi might have to see “Tamils’ unique nature” if the State was denied of [Samagra Shiksha] funds.
Referring to Mr. Pradhan’s observations that Tamil Nadu would have to come to terms with the Indian Constitution, Mr. Stalin questioned: “Which section of the Indian Constitution is making the three-language policy mandatory? Can the [Union] Education Minister point out?”
Underlining that the Indian Union was only made of States and that ‘Education’ was a subject in the Concurrent List, Mr. Stalin contended: “The Union Government is not its [Education’s] sole custodian. The Tamils “will not tolerate the rash blackmail” that there would be no funds for Tamil Nadu until the three-language policy was accepted,” the Chief Minister said.
“We are only asking for our rights. If you speak with brashness as if we are asking for private property, Delhi might have to see Tamils’ unique nature,” Mr. Stalin said in a social media post.
Mr. Pradhan, during a media interaction had said the issue with Tamil Nadu’s position was not only with PM SHRI schools but also on several other issues concerning the National Education Policy. He described them as “politically motivated” and they were “not for the welfare of Tamil Nadu.”
“They are doing mischief. They have to come to terms of the Indian Constitution. How can they think that they are above the Constitution?” he had said. “They have to accept the National Education Policy in letter and in spirit,” Mr. Pradhan said. When all parts of the country were accepting the NEP, “Why they will not accept? Because they have a political motivation.”
Pointing out that the NEP was for making the local language the primary language, Mr. Pradhan had asked: “Are they opposing that? They are confused people. For their own political intent, they are creating this kind of confusion.”
There were many Central schools functioning in Tamil Nadu and young students were good in three-language formula, he felt and asked: “Why they debar from three-language formula? The country is changing, the globe is changing. Why they debar? What is wrong in that?”
MDMK general secretary Vaiko said Mr. Pradhan’s assertion that the Centre would not release funds till Tamil Nadu accepted the NEP was highly condemnable.
“Tamil Nadu is opposing the NEP because it is imposing a three-language policy. Two-language policy was introduced in Tamil Nadu by Anna (former CM Annadurai) and it is still being followed. The plan of the Union Government to use the NEP to impose Hindu and Sanskrit will not be accepted,” he said and urged the Centre to release funds for the State.
