New Delhi: The war of words between the DMK and the BJP over the three-language scheme under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, has now reached Parliament. Proceedings in the Lok Sabha had to be adjourned till noon, on Monday, after DMK MPs walked into the Well of the House demanding ‘justice’ and accusing the Centre of holding back funds for political reasons.
Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan reacted to this by saying that the DMK is attempting to mislead the country on NEP 2020. He denied claims that an effort is being made to impose Hindi on any state.
Addressing the Lok Sabha during Question Hour, Dharmendra said: “Had it been a matter of imposition of Hindi, how is it that Karnataka – a non-BJP rules state – has accepted the Policy? Several other non-BJP states have done the same.”
He accused the Tamil Nadu government of harming the future of students. Calling it’s stance ‘uncivilised’ and ‘undemocratic’, Dharmendra said: “They are not committed to the Tamil Nadu students. They are ruining their future. They are dishonest to the people of Tamil Nadu.”
This battle over Hindi has been going on for several days now. It all started with Dharmendra saying that Tamil Nadu stands to lose allocations and grants to the tune of nearly Rs 5,000 crore for its failure to implement schemes under the PM Shiksha Shri project in the state. Tamil Nadu chief minister M K Stalin had immediately reacted by claiming that this is an attempt by the Centre to impose it’s three-language scheme on the state.
Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah were drawn into this battle, with Stalin warning the Centre of repercussions, if it attempted to throw stones at a ‘beehive’. The Tamil Nadu chief minister also called on other states in southern India to join him in this protest against the imposition of Hindi.
Stalin even went on to challenge the BJP to make Hindi an issue in the Assembly elections that are due in the state in 2026.
