DMK chief MK Stalin has alleged that the people of Tamil Nadu are being deceived by the Centre over the issue of the National Education Policy. BJP however, hit back pointing out Stalin’s hypocrisy
Chennai: After much hue and cry over the draft of the National Education Policy 2019 (NEP), the Centre gave in to the pressure and stated that the three-language formula will no longer be a compulsion. However, even this move is being criticised by MK Stalin, president of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). The BJP in Tamil Nadu has however pointed out at Stalin’s double standards.
Stalin alleged that the Centre's move on dropping the clause on compulsory Hindi learning in the draft National Education Policy was aimed at deceiving Tamil Nadu and demanded an explanation over it. He sought a categorical assurance that Hindi will not be thrust on the southern state.
Also read: National Education Policy 2019 draft tweaked to become more flexible
Presiding over a function to celebrate the 96th birth anniversary of his father and DMK patriarch, late M Karunanidhi in Chennai, Stalin said in the absence of such an explanation, Tamil Nadu will witness a massive agitation on the lines of the 1965 stir to oppose Hindi.
Recalling the demonstration led by Karunanidhi during the pre-Independence era and the 1965 protests against Hindi in Tamil Nadu, he said that a situation was now emerging for reprising such massive agitations.
"The announcement (by the Centre on dropping the contentious clause mandating Hindi learning) has been made with an intent to deceive and if there is no explanation (assuring that Hindi will not be thrust) in two to three days, the leaders of the alliance partners here will get together, decide and following that, Tamil Nadu will witness a massive agitation, be prepared," Stalin told party workers.
The DMK chief alleged that the BJP-led government at the Centre was enacting a drama on the language issue after seeing the huge opposition to the proposal in the draft National Education Policy on Hindi learning in Tamil Nadu.
State secretary of the BJP, KT Raghavan spoke to MyNation and said that if any student wanted to learn any of the languages, then the state government must facilitate such needs.
Pointing out that Stalin who claims to be an advocate for the Tamil language, doesn’t teach Tamil as the first language in the school he owns.
“Why is MK Stalin such a hypocrite? In his school, the first language is English, the second language is Tamil and third language is Hindi,” stated Raghavan. He further went on to say that if anyone was deceptive, it would be Stalin.
Political parties in Tamil Nadu strongly opposed the three-language formula's continuation with add-on features proposed in the draft National Education Policy alleging it was tantamount to "thrusting" Hindi and wanted it junked.
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