The actor turned politician has warned against any attempt to impose a language on Tamil Nadu, amid the Centre-state row over NEP 2020’s three-language policy
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI — Actor turned politician Kamal Haasan has issued a strong warning over Tamil Nadu’s linguistic pride, cautioning against any attempt to impose a language on the state.
The ongoing dispute between the Central government and Tamil Nadu over the three-language policy in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 has intensified, with Kamal Haasan cautioning against undermining the sentiments of Tamilians.
Speaking at the 8th foundation day of his party, Makkal Needhi Maiyam, in Chennai, Haasan underscored the deep-rooted linguistic pride of Tamilians and the struggles they have endured to preserve their language.
“Tamilians have lost their lives for a language. Don’t play with these things,” Haasan said, emphasising that even children in Tamil Nadu know what language they need and have the right to choose. His remarks come amid a deepening standoff between the Tamil Nadu government and the Centre over the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and its three-language formula, as per the Times of India report.
The controversy escalated after Chief Minister MK Stalin wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s statement suggested Tamil Nadu’s education funds under ‘Samagra Shiksha’ would be withheld unless the state complied with NEP’s three-language policy. Stalin strongly opposed any attempt to introduce Hindi in Tamil Nadu, warning the Centre against “throwing stones at a beehive.”
M.K. Stalin also condemned Pradhan’s remarks as an act of “blackmail” and questioned the constitutional validity of enforcing the three-language formula.
‘Language Should Not Be a Cause for Division’
BJP’s Tamil Nadu chief, K Annamalai, according to media reports, defended the three-language system, arguing that learning an additional language would benefit students. Meanwhile, Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin countered, stating that Hindi had already diminished regional languages in North India and could do the same to Tamil if implemented.
Amid the ongoing debate, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasised the need to prevent linguistic divisions. Addressing the 98th Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan in Delhi, Modi stated that all languages in India are part of the mainstream and should coexist harmoniously.
“Indian languages have never been in conflict with one another; rather, they have mutually enriched each other,” Modi remarked, underscoring the historical unity of India’s linguistic heritage. (With inputs from media)
