'National Education Policy aims to develop Hindi rather than India': MK Stalin

Stalin has fired sharp attacks on Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, whom he last month accused of 'blackmail' by threatening to withhold funds and this week said was "arrogant" and "acting like a king".

On Wednesday evening, Stalin at an event in Tiruvallur, said: "The National Education Policy is not education policy... it is a saffronisation policy."

"The policy was not created to develop India... but to develop Hindi. We are opposing this policy as it will completely destroy the Tamil Nadu education system," he said.

He alleged that the Centre has been denying Rs 2,150 crore in funds for state-run schools until Tamil Nadu implements the education policy.

Stalin claimed the Centre was acting "like a dictatorship to destroy the rights of states and the federal structure".

"You said you would give importance to states (when Mr Modi was campaigning to become the PM). But what have you done so far to give importance to federalism?" he asked, also accusing the BJP of taking "political revenge" for electoral defeats in Tamil Nadu in 2021 and 2024.

"We are asking for our share of taxes... which we paid with our efforts. What is the problem with this? Is it fair to threaten and not release funds for the welfare of 43 lakh schools? Because we don't accept NEP, they are refusing to release funds that belong to Tamil Nadu..."

"We would have welcomed NEP if it brought everyone into education (i.e., increased school enrolment) But NEP removes people from education (i.e., the DMK claims it will disincentive Tamil students as Hindi will be 'forced' on them'). That is why we are opposing it..." he said.

The row over 'Hindi imposition' - a sensitive topic particularly in Tamil Nadu, where 'anti-Hindi' riots broke out in the 1960s and which has always been opposed to the language being forced on it - re-erupted last month with the BJP-led Centre pushing its new policy.

The DMK, and its ally, the Congress, have argued that Tamil Nadu, the second-largest state economy, has flourished under a two-language system that teaches Tamil and English.

The BJP, though, maintains its formula will benefit Tamil people who travel to other states.

It has said no student will be forced to learn Hindi as the third language and has counter-accused the DMK of politicising the language issue ahead of next year's Assembly election.