Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressed a public gathering in Rameswaram on Sunday and criticised Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin. PM mentioned that the letters from Tamil Nadu ministers were not signed in Tamil. Modi also urged the state government to introduce medical courses in the Tamil language.
“The Government is constantly working to ensure that the Tamil language and Tamil heritage reach every corner of the world. Sometimes, I am surprised when I receive letters from some leaders of Tamil Nadu; none of them are signed in the Tamil language. If you are proud of Tamil, then I would request everyone at least sign your name in Tamil,” Modi stated after inaugurating the New Pambam bridge.
His remarks come against the backdrop of a heated debate surrounding the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, with the Stalin-led DMK government vehemently opposing the three-language formula, arguing that it promotes Hindi over regional languages and threatens the state’s linguistic autonomy.
In addition to the language issue, Modi also appealed to the Tamil Nadu government to facilitate medical education in Tamil, enabling students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds to pursue their medical aspirations.
“I would urge the Tamil Nadu government to start medical courses in the Tamil language so that even the children of poor families can fulfil their dream of becoming doctors. Our effort is to ensure that the youth of our country do not have to go abroad to become doctors. In the last 10 years, Tamil Nadu has got 11 new medical colleges,” he said.
Beyond the language debate, Modi also highlighted the government’s commitment to the security and well-being of Tamil Nadu’s fishermen, particularly concerning their interactions with Sri Lanka.
“Your security and well-being remain a top priority for the government. Through the dedicated efforts of the Indian government, over 3,700 fishermen have been successfully repatriated from Sri Lanka over the past decade. More than 600 fishermen were freed just in the last year alone. Some of our fishermen even faced capital punishment. However, we took decisive steps to ensure their safe return to the country,” he said.
(With ANI Inputs)