Sat Mar 15 07:32:38 UTC 2025: ## DMK Rejects Pawan Kalyan’s Criticism of Tamil Nadu’s Hindi Stance

**Chennai, India** – A war of words has erupted over the ongoing debate surrounding Hindi imposition in India, with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party in Tamil Nadu sharply rebuking Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan for his criticism of the state’s language policy.

Kalyan, also a prominent actor and leader of the Janasena Party, accused Tamil Nadu politicians of hypocrisy, questioning their opposition to Hindi while simultaneously dubbing Tamil films into Hindi for commercial gain. He also questioned the state’s opposition to Hindi while employing laborers from Bihar.

DMK spokesperson Dr. Syed Hafeezullah dismissed Kalyan’s argument as a “hollow understanding” of Tamil Nadu’s position. He clarified that the state does not oppose individuals learning Hindi but strongly objects to its imposition through policies like the National Education Policy (NEP). The DMK highlighted the existence of Hindi Prachar Sabhas, which voluntarily teach Hindi to those interested.

Senior DMK leader TKS Elangovan further emphasized that Tamil Nadu’s opposition to Hindi imposition dates back to 1938, citing a 1968 state assembly legislation advocating for a two-language formula. He dismissed Kalyan’s comments as uninformed and politically motivated.

Actor Prakash Raj also weighed in on the controversy, stating on social media that opposing language imposition is not equivalent to hating the language itself, but rather a matter of protecting Tamil identity and self-respect.

The BJP, however, backed Kalyan’s remarks, with party leader Vikram Randhawa advocating for more aggressive promotion of Hindi in southern states, incorrectly stating that Hindi is the national language. This assertion was quickly corrected, highlighting that Hindi is one of India’s official languages, not the national language. The exchange underscores the deep-seated linguistic tensions and political fault lines within India.

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