New Delhi: In the wake of the controversy over the recommendation of an HRD Ministry panel to teach Hindi in non-Hindi speaking states, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar clarified on the matter. He said that the committee had only prepared a draft report and no decision has been taken on implementing it, yet.

He further asserted that no language should be imposed on anyone.

The draft of the new National Education Policy, proposed by the panel constituted by Javadekar when he was HRD minister in the previous Modi government, had suggested teaching of Hindi in non-Hindi speaking states.

Also read: National Education Policy 2019 draft: Tamil Nadu opposes 3-language formula

"The committee has submitted its report. The draft has been prepared but the government has not taken any decision. It is just a misunderstanding. We will only take a decision after feedback on the draft has been received," Javadekar told reporters.

Javadekar has responded after Tamil Nadu rose in opposition to the move. Several political party leaders have voiced their opinions and condemned the imposition of a language.

"The Modi government's policy has always been that all languages should be developed and no language should be imposed on anyone. There should be no unnecessary apprehensions about it,” the Union minister added.

Javadekar is the Union minister for information and broadcasting in the second Modi government. The HRD portfolio has been allotted to Ramesh Pokhriyal this time.

"Students will be required to attain proficiency in discussing their major in at least in one Indian language through an appropriate written project or presentation in that language," as per the draft policy.

Besides the DMK, the CPI and BJP's ally in the Lok Sabha polls, the PMK, also alleged that the recommendation on the three-language formula was "imposition of Hindi" and wanted scrapping it.

Tamil Nadu Education Minister K A Sengottaiyan spoke to the media and said, "There will be no deviation from the two-language formula followed in Tamil Nadu. Only Tamil and English will continue to be taught in our state."

Sengottaiyan's party AIADMK is an ally of the BJP. Despite allegations of AIADMK being a “yes master” to the BJP, Mahendran, an MP from AIADMK has stated that the party will not support imposition of any kind.

AMMK leader TTV Dhinakaran also said, "Imposing Hindi on non-Hindi speaking states will destroy pluralism. This would make non-Hindi speakers second class citizens.”