Rajya Sabha MP Sudha Murthy supports the three-language policy proposed in the National Education Policy (NEP), which encourages students to learn multiple languages. Reflecting on her own personal experience, Murthy emphasised the importance of multilingual education, stating, “I have always believed that one can learn multiple languages and I myself know 7-8 languages. So I enjoy learning, and children can earn a lot.”
Murthy’s comments come at a time when the policy has sparked significant political debate. While she advocates for its merits, Congress MP Karti Chidambaram has criticised the Union Government’s stance on the issue. He argued that the state is best served by its existing two-language formula – English and Tamil – and that making a third language compulsory would be “completely unacceptable.”
“Tamil Nadu is very clear and well-served with the two-language formula – English and Tamil,” Chidambaram said. “English connects us with the world of commerce and science, and Tamil preserves our culture and identity. If anyone wants to learn a third language, it should be their personal choice. There is no reason to make it compulsory. Forcing a third language on us would be completely unacceptable, and the Union government must be flexible in its approach.”
The controversy surrounding the NEP also saw further statements from Congress MP Jebi Mather, who criticised the BJP-led central government for its handling of the language issue.
“The BJP should realise that the language issue is a sensitive emotional matter… Anything that hurts people’s sentiments should not be promoted. Dharmendra Pradhan is unnecessarily causing division in society. We, in the opposition, stand for unity, and that is why we walked out of Parliament yesterday,” Mather asserted. “The BJP has hidden agendas in the NEP.”
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan responded sharply to the opposition’s criticism. He denied the allegations, emphasising that the central government, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, would never use language to divide society.
In a parallel development, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also weighed in on the matter, targeting the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) for its opposition to the three-language policy. Sitharaman accused the DMK-led Tamil Nadu government of creating a “political mess” and undermining the children’s right to learn by opposing the initiative.
The ongoing political divide highlights the sensitive nature of language issues in India, with opposing sides firmly entrenched in their views on the NEP’s implementation. As the debate continues, the future of the three-language policy remains uncertain, with various stakeholders advocating for different approaches based on regional and cultural considerations.
(With ANI Inputs)