New Delhi: Hitting back at critics calling the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) as chauvinists and anti-nationals, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Thursday said demanding linguistic equality was not chauvinism but a rightful assertion. Stalin took to social media and accused “Hindi zealots” of treating Tamil Nadu as second-class citizens. He condemned the ‘Hindi Zealots’ for imposing their language on non-Hindi speakers.
👉🏾 “When you are accustomed to privilege, equality feels like oppression.” I am reminded of this famous quote when some entitled bigots brand us chauvinists and anti-nationals for the ‘crime’ of demanding Tamil’s rightful place in Tamil Nadu.
👉🏾 The very people who glorify… pic.twitter.com/MOzmUSEyia
— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) March 6, 2025
This is in reference to the renaming of India’s three key criminal laws, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and Bharatiya Sakshya Act. Stalin questioned the exclusion of Tamil and other regional languages in naming laws that govern 140 crore citizens. “Chauvinism is naming the three criminal laws in a language that Tamils cannot even pronounce or comprehend by reading,” he said.
He also slammed those questioning DMK’s patriotism. The Tamil Nadu CM alleged that the ideological predecessors of his critics glorified Nathuram Godse, who assassinated Mahatma Gandhi. Stalin highlighted that Tamil Nadu had contributed the highest amount of funds during the Chinese Aggression, Bangladesh Liberation War, and Kargil War. He, therefore, challenged accusations against DMK’s nationalistic commitment.
Stalin also took a strong stand against the National Education Policy (NEP). He referred to the policy as “poison” that Tamil Nadu refuses to accept. “Imposition of anything breeds enmity. Enmity threatens unity. Hence, the true chauvinists and anti-nationals are the Hindi zealots who believe their entitlement is natural but our resistance is treason,” he stated
