Won't allow Hindi imposition even for Rs 10,000 crore: Stalin bashes Centre, AIADMK
MK Stalin accused Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan of "saffronising" education and linking funds to Hindi imposition, while also attacking AIADMK's alliance with the NDA ahead of the Tamil Nadu polls.
Stepping up his campaign ahead of the April 23 Assembly elections, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Sunday launched a sharp attack on the BJP-led NDA and the AIADMK, accusing them of attempting to impose Hindi and undermine the state’s linguistic identity.
Addressing a public meeting in Pudukkottai, Stalin said Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s role was to strengthen education, not “saffronise” it, alleging that the Centre was using policy tools to push Hindi in non-Hindi speaking states.
“Even if you give us Rs 10,000 crore, we will not allow Hindi imposition,” Stalin said, claiming that around Rs 2,000 crore in education funds had been withheld for Tamil Nadu over its refusal to adopt the three-language policy.
ATTACKS NDA, AIADMK ALLIANCE
The DMK chief also targeted AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami, accusing his party of aligning with the BJP at the cost of Tamil Nadu’s interests.
“To bring the disaster called the NDA into Tamil Nadu through the back door, the primary ‘slave’ chosen is Palaniswami,” Stalin said, using wordplay to describe him as a “yes-man.”
He alleged that the AIADMK’s alliance with the NDA amounted to a “betrayal” of Tamil language, people, and the state, adding that the decision to align was taken in Delhi, not Tamil Nadu.
ACCUSES AIADMK OF NO RESPONSE TO NDA COALITION TALK
Referring to recent remarks by Union Minister Ramdas Athawale about forming an NDA coalition government in Tamil Nadu, Stalin questioned why AIADMK had not responded.
“What would he say? He said nothing,” Stalin remarked, suggesting the party was unwilling to challenge the BJP leadership.
CRITICISM OF 3-LANGUAGE POLICY
Stalin also cited statements by Union ministers, including Piyush Goyal and Pradhan, accusing them of advocating Hindi imposition through the three-language formula.
Reiterating his government’s stand, Stalin said Tamil Nadu would continue to oppose any attempt to enforce Hindi, framing the issue as one of cultural and linguistic rights.
Tamil Nadu will go to polls for all 234 Assembly constituencies on April 23, with vote counting scheduled for May 4.