Fri Nov 21 09:25:06 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and news article rewrite of the provided text:

Summary:

Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin sparked controversy by calling Sanskrit a “dead language” during a book release event in Chennai. He criticized the Union government’s allocation of funds, citing the significantly larger amount provided for Sanskrit compared to Tamil Development. This statement drew a sharp rebuke from BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan, who emphasized the importance of responsible language and cultural commentary from leaders. She pointed out Sanskrit’s continued use in religious practices and highlighted Tamil’s historical openness to incorporating words and ideas from other languages, including Sanskrit.

News Article:

Tamil Nadu Deputy CM’s “Dead Language” Remark on Sanskrit Ignites Political Firestorm

CHENNAI, November 21, 2025 – A political row erupted in Tamil Nadu today after Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin referred to Sanskrit as a “dead language” during a book release event in Chennai. Stalin, a leader from the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), criticized the Union government for allocating ₹2,400 crore to Sanskrit while providing only ₹150 crore for Tamil Development.

“Sanskrit, a dead language, is receiving far more support than Tamil,” Stalin stated, highlighting what he perceived as an imbalance in funding priorities.

His comments drew immediate condemnation from BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan, who called for greater responsibility in linguistic and cultural discussions. “No one has the right to call any language dead, especially one that is still actively used in prayers and rituals across the country,” Soundararajan told PTI. “Leaders must be more responsible when they speak about language and culture.”

Soundararajan also emphasized Tamil’s history of incorporating elements from other languages, including Sanskrit. “Tamil is an open-hearted language that has absorbed words and ideas from many tongues, including Sanskrit. This shows its strength, not its weakness.”

The exchange underscores ongoing tensions surrounding language politics in Tamil Nadu and the broader debate about the promotion of Sanskrit versus regional languages in India. The controversy is expected to continue fueling political discourse in the coming days.

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