Kakinada (Andhra Pradesh) [India], March 15: Janasena Party chief and Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan on Friday accused Tamil Nadu politicians of hypocrisy regarding their opposition to Hindi, while simultaneously allowing Tamil films to be dubbed in Hindi for financial gain.
While addressing his party’s 12th foundation day in Pithampuram, Kakinada, Kalyan questioned, “I do not understand why some criticize Sanskrit. Why do Tamil Nadu politicians oppose Hindi while allowing their movies to be dubbed in Hindi for financial gain? They want money from Bollywood but refuse to accept Hindi—what kind of logic is that?”
His comments come amid Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin’s ongoing protest against the Union government’s alleged ‘Hindi imposition’ and the refusal to implement the three-language formula outlined in the National Education Policy (NEP).
Kalyan stressed the need for linguistic diversity in India, suggesting that the country should embrace multiple languages, including Tamil, instead of focusing on just two. “India needs multiple languages, including Tamil, not just two. We must embrace linguistic diversity—not only to maintain the integrity of our nation but also to foster love and unity among its people,” he said.
Kalyan’s remarks followed Tamil Nadu CM Stalin’s criticism of the NEP on March 13, in which he described it as a “saffronized policy” aimed at promoting Hindi rather than fostering national development. Stalin argued that the policy posed a threat to the state’s education system, claiming that it would damage Tamil Nadu’s unique educational framework.
Additionally, Stalin accused the central government of withholding funds from Tamil Nadu as a way to pressure the state into accepting the NEP. “We are asking for your tax share, which we paid with our efforts. What is the problem with this? Is it fair to threaten without releasing funds for the welfare of 43 lakh schools? As we didn’t accept NEP, they are refusing to release funds that belong to Tamil Nadu,” Stalin said.
“We would have welcomed the scheme if it brought everyone into education. But is NEP like that? NEP has all the factors that remove people from education. This is how this policy is, and that’s why we are opposing it,” he added.