Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) MP Kanimozhi and other DMK MPs staged a protest in Parliament on Tuesday against the National Education Policy (NEP) and the three-language formula. The protest erupted following Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s remarks, which the DMK termed as offensive and undemocratic.
The DMK has long opposed NEP, particularly the three-language formula, arguing that it is an attempt to impose Hindi on Tamil Nadu. DMK MP Kanimozhi accused the Centre of “ruining the future of Tamil Nadu’s children” and withholding funds for education unless the state implements the NEP and three-language policy.
“The Union Government is withholding Tamil Nadu’s rightful funds, demanding that we accept the three-language policy and NEP. They are destroying our children’s future. They have no right to do this,” Kanimozhi said.
Congress MP K Suresh also criticized the Centre, alleging that NEP was implemented without consulting state governments or academicians. He accused the government of attempting to “saffronise the education system.”
“Tamil Nadu has always opposed the three-language policy. The Centre imposed it without their consent. This is an attack on the state’s autonomy,” Suresh said.
On Monday, a heated exchange took place between Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and DMK MPs. Pradhan accused the DMK-led Tamil Nadu government of dishonesty, claiming it initially agreed to PM SHRI (PM Schools for Rising India) Scheme but later backed out.
“They (DMK) are dishonest. They are not committed to Tamil Nadu’s students. They are ruining their future. Their only agenda is politics and language barriers. They are undemocratic and uncivilised,” Pradhan said during Question Hour.
His remarks triggered outrage among DMK members, leading to protests in Parliament and the adjournment of proceedings in the Lok Sabha.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin strongly reacted to Pradhan’s comments, calling them insulting and arrogant. In a social media post on X, Stalin accused the Union Minister of disrespecting the people of Tamil Nadu.
“The arrogance of the Union Minister is unacceptable. He spoke like an arrogant king. He has insulted Tamil Nadu, and he must be disciplined,” Stalin wrote.
The standoff between Tamil Nadu and the Centre over NEP and the three-language policy continues to escalate, with the DMK vowing to resist any move to impose Hindi in the state.