New Delhi [India]: Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) MP Kanimozhi, along with other DMK MPs, staged a protest in Parliament on Tuesday against the National Education Policy (NEP), the three-language policy, and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s remarks on the matter.
The DMK has strongly opposed the NEP, particularly the three-language formula, arguing that it aims to impose Hindi on Tamil Nadu.
DMK MP Kanimozhi accused the Centre of jeopardizing the future of Tamil Nadu’s children.
“The Union Government is withholding the money that has to be given to Tamil Nadu, saying that we have to sign the three-language policy and the NEP. They are ruining the future of the children of Tamil Nadu. They have no right to withhold the funds which have to come to the children of Tamil Nadu,” Kanimozhi said.
She further criticized Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan for his remarks in Parliament.
“Yesterday, he (Dharmendra Pradhan) responded in a very abusive way, saying that we are dishonest and that the people of Tamil Nadu are uncivilised. This is not the language we expect him to be speaking. This is totally undemocratic. We expect an apology,” she added.
Congress MP K Suresh also condemned the central government’s approach, accusing it of implementing the NEP without consulting state governments or academic experts.
“Education policy change is a very serious issue. Without consulting state governments and academicians, they (central govt) brought in a new education policy. They want to saffronise the entire education system. Tamil Nadu has always been against the three-language policy, but without their consent, the union government took the decision. Our party members from Tamil Nadu also support the DMK,” Suresh said.
The controversy escalated following a heated exchange between Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and the DMK. During Question Hour, Pradhan alleged that the DMK-led Tamil Nadu government had initially agreed to implement the PM Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) scheme but later backtracked.
“They (DMK) are dishonest. They are not committed to the students of Tamil Nadu. They are ruining the future of Tamil Nadu students. Their only job is to raise language barriers. They are doing politics. They are undemocratic and uncivilised,” Pradhan remarked.
His comments triggered outrage, prompting Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin to respond strongly. In a post on X written in Tamil, Stalin condemned Pradhan’s remarks as “arrogant” and accused him of “insulting the people of Tamil Nadu.” Stalin further stated that Pradhan’s behavior was akin to an “arrogant king” and demanded that he be “disciplined.”
The DMK’s protest in Parliament led to an adjournment of proceedings in the Lower House.