BJP To Launch Campaign On 3-Language Policy From March 1 In Tamil Nadu

The BJP in Tamil Nadu has decided to push for the three-language policy with a door-to-door campaign, escalating the ongoing row over what the ruling DMK has called the "imposition" of Hindi. The campaign will begin from March 1, the BJP has said, asserting that the DMK's opposition to the Centre's three-language policy is a direct violation of the Constitutional principles.

The Centre's three-language policy has never been accepted in Tamil Nadu since the days of former Chief Minister CN Annadurai. The state has been following a two-language policy, teaching Tamil and English in schools.. 

But the matter escalated as Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan made it clear that Tamil Nadu will not receive funds under the Samagra Shiksha scheme unless it fully implements the National Education Policy 2020.

The minister alleged that the opposition to the policy - which includes three languages -- was politically motivated. He also questioned why Tamil Nadu remains the only state resisting the education policy while the rest of the country has adopted it.

Chief Minister MK Stalin accused the minister of "blackmail" and vowed that the Tamil people would not accept such coercion.

On Monday, DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran accused the Centre of diverting Rs 2,000 crore meant for Tamil Nadu to other states.

"Just last week, the Union government has taken away nearly Rs 2,000 crore, meant for Tamil Nadu students and diverted to other states. Have we ever heard of a Union government punishing students? We are very, very clear that we will never ever accept three-language policy," Mr Maran said in the Lok Sabha during a debate on the Union Budget.

"Chief Minister M K Stalin has made it clear that whatever may happen, three-language policy will never be implemented in Tamil Nadu. We will ensure our students are not deprived, they will be taken care with our own funds," he added.

State BJP chief J Annamalai has taken the DMK head-on, accusing it of sticking to an "outdated" policy from the 1960s.

"The world is developing rapidly. And what is the point of imposing your outdated policy of the 1960s on the children of Tamil Nadu?" he said.

"In private schools run by DMK across Tamil Nadu, most of them have the CBSE trilingual curriculum. Why is it a scam only for government school students? Is the Chief Minister saying that people should learn multiple languages only if they have money? It is now 2025," Mr Annamalai said.