Thu Feb 27 07:18:31 UTC 2025: ## Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Escalates “Hindi Imposition” Row, Accuses Centre of Linguistic Genocide

**Chennai, India –** Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has launched a scathing attack on the central government, accusing it of imposing Hindi and destroying 25 native North Indian languages over the past century. His comments come amidst a growing row over the implementation of the National Education Policy’s three-language formula.

Stalin, in a series of tweets and statements, claimed that the push for a monolithic Hindi identity has led to the decline of languages like Bhojpuri, Maithili, and Awadhi, among others. He further criticized the central government’s alleged prioritization of Sanskrit over Tamil in the new education policy, highlighting the lack of Tamil language teachers in Kendriya Vidyalayas (central government schools). He stated that Tamil is only taught in the Andaman Islands and that the Centre’s claim that any language can be taught in schools is contradicted by its actions. He also cited the replacement of Urdu teachers with Sanskrit teachers in Rajasthan schools as evidence of the central government’s alleged linguistic bias.

The BJP, however, dismissed Stalin’s claims as “silly.” Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has accused the Tamil Nadu government of twisting facts for political gain ahead of the 2026 elections. He further stated that there is no imposition of Hindi, and that Tamil Nadu had initially agreed to the new education policy before reversing its decision for political reasons. Pradhan also threatened to withhold Rs 2,150 crore in funds for Tamil Nadu if the state fails to fully implement the policy.

This renewed conflict has seen the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government and its leader, Udhayanidhi Stalin, vehemently opposing the central government’s actions. The situation has even led to a prominent BJP actor, Ranjana Natchiyaar, quitting the party and joining actor Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam. Vijay himself has accused both the DMK and BJP of staging the confrontation for political purposes.

The conflict highlights the long-standing tension between Tamil Nadu and the central government regarding the use of Hindi, echoing past protests against Hindi imposition dating back to 1967. The current dispute underscores the deep-seated concerns within Tamil Nadu and other southern states about the potential marginalization of their regional languages.

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