Mon Mar 10 09:44:21 UTC 2025: **Tamil Nadu-Centre Clash Erupts in Parliament Over Hindi in Education**

NEW DELHI – A bitter war of words erupted in the Indian Parliament on Monday over the implementation of the new National Education Policy (NEP) and the alleged imposition of Hindi in Tamil Nadu. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan accused the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party of being “uncivilized” and harming the future of Tamil Nadu students by opposing the policy’s three-language formula.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin swiftly retaliated, accusing Pradhan of arrogance and issuing a strongly worded statement on X (formerly Twitter), both in Tamil and English, demanding Pradhan retract his remarks. Stalin challenged Pradhan’s assertion that the DMK initially agreed to the policy before backtracking for political gain ahead of next year’s Assembly elections. He further questioned whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved of Pradhan’s statements.

Pradhan claimed that Tamil Nadu’s opposition was fueled by internal DMK conflicts and dishonesty regarding the state’s commitment to the NEP. He also alleged that the state’s refusal to fully implement the policy, specifically the three-language formula which includes Hindi, would result in the withholding of central funds for education. This prompted Stalin to demand clarification from Modi regarding the potential withholding of funds, characterizing the threat as blackmail.

Adding fuel to the fire, former Tamil Nadu Governor and BJP leader Tamilisai Soundarajan accused the DMK of denying poorer students the opportunity to learn a third language, a privilege she claimed is enjoyed by students from wealthier families.

DMK MPs Dayanidhi Maran and K Kanimozhi countered Pradhan’s claims, insisting that the party never fully agreed to the NEP and the three-language policy. They clarified that their opposition was not to Hindi itself, but to its compulsory imposition.

The dispute highlights the deeply sensitive issue of Hindi imposition in southern India, particularly in Tamil Nadu, where anti-Hindi sentiments run deep, stemming from violent protests against Hindi imposition in the 1960s. The current conflict underscores the ongoing tensions between the central government and Tamil Nadu over language and education policy.

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