The long-standing debate over language policy in Tamil Nadu reignited on Friday as Chief Minister MK Stalin accused the Central government of imposing Hindi on non-Hindi-speaking states. In response, Union Home Minister Amit Shah urged the Tamil Nadu government to introduce medical and engineering courses in Tamil, asserting that the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has not taken sufficient steps to promote the language in higher education.
Speaking on the subject, Shah highlighted the Narendra Modi-led government’s commitment to regional languages in recruitment policies. "Till now, there was no place for the mother tongue in the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) Constable recruitment. Prime Minister Narendra Modi decided that our youth will now be able to write their CAPF exam in all languages in the Eighth Schedule, including Tamil," he stated. Shah further urged Stalin to expedite the introduction of medical and engineering curricula in Tamil.
In 2023, the Centre approved the conduct of CAPF exams in 13 regional languages, including Tamil, after Stalin’s earlier protests against the initial decision to hold them solely in Hindi and English.
Stalin took to social media to criticize the Centre, accusing it of "Hindi imposition" through the National Education Policy (NEP). He framed the policy as a direct threat to Tamil Nadu’s linguistic identity and vowed not to succumb to what he termed as "linguistic blackmail."
"The tree may prefer calm, but the wind will not subside," Stalin remarked, condemning what he described as provocations by the Union Education Minister. He challenged the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to make the Hindi issue a key agenda item in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, calling for a referendum on the matter.
The NEP 2020 proposes a three-language formula while asserting that no language will be imposed on any state. However, the policy has faced strong opposition in Tamil Nadu, where the DMK-led government upholds a two-language system—Tamil and English—as sufficient. Stalin cited Tamil Nadu’s historical resistance to Hindi imposition, stating that past attempts had only strengthened the DMK’s position.
"Tamil Nadu will not tolerate Hindi colonialism replacing British colonialism," he declared, criticizing the increased prominence of Hindi in the Centre’s schemes, awards, and institutions.
Tamil Nadu BJP President K Annamalai dismissed Stalin’s statements as "fake drama," accusing him of stirring unnecessary controversy. He claimed that the three-language formula enjoys broad public support and accused the DMK of using the language issue as a political tool to rally support.
The ongoing conflict between the Centre and Tamil Nadu highlights deep-seated political and cultural differences on linguistic identity and educational policies. While the BJP promotes multilingual education, Tamil Nadu's resistance stems from a decades-long struggle against perceived linguistic imposition. With the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections on the horizon, the language debate is likely to remain a key battleground in state politics.
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