NEW DELHI: Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin on Thursday hit out at Yogi Adityanath, after the UP CM criticised Stalin over the three-language row and delimitation, saying that Tamil Nadu CM was trying to create divisions based on region and language.
“Tamil Nadu’s fair and firm voice on two-language policy and fair delimitation is echoing nationwide—and the BJP is clearly rattled. Just watch their leaders’ interviews,” Stalin said in a post on X.
He added, “And now Hon’ble Yogi Adityanath wants to lecture us on hate? Spare us. This isn’t irony—it’s political black comedy at its darkest.”
In an interview with the news agency ANI, UP CM Yogi said that Stalin was trying to create divisions based on region and language because he felt his vote bank was at risk.
Adityanath questioned why Hindi should be “hated”.
On being asked about the opposition to the Hindi language in Tamil Nadu, Yogi said, “The country should not be divided on the basis of language or region. We are grateful to Prime Minister Modi ji for organizing the third generation of the Kashi-Tamil Sangamam in Varanasi. Tamil is one of the oldest languages in India, and its history is as ancient as Sanskrit. Every Indian has respect and reverence for Tamil because many elements of Indian heritage are still alive in the language. So, why should we hate Hindi?”
Adityanath had also dismissed Stalin’s concerns about delimitation, calling it a “political agenda.”
“Look, the home minister has said this very clearly on this matter. This is Stalin’s political agenda under the guise of the meeting. I believe that after the home minister’s statement, no questions should arise on this issue,” he said.
On February 22, the first Joint Action Committee (JAC), led by Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin, urged the central government to “not penalise” the states that have effectively implemented the population control program.
Replying to Adityanath’s statement, Stalin wrote, “We don’t oppose any language; we oppose imposition and chauvinism. This isn’t riot-for-votes politics. This is a battle for dignity and justice.”
Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin has accused the Union government of trying to impose Hindi and has refused to implement the three-language formula under NEP. Tamil Nadu’s refusal to adopt the three-language policy under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 has revived the long-standing debate on language.
The debate over NEP is focused on its three-language formula, which Tamil Nadu fears may lead to the introduction of Hindi in the state. Stalin has raised concerns that the policy gives more importance to Hindi over regional languages, which he believes affects the state’s linguistic identity and autonomy. The central government, however, says that NEP encourages multilingualism and allows flexibility in language education.
Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan has denied that Hindi is being imposed, saying that states have the freedom to choose their languages under the policy.
The dispute grew after the central government withheld Rs 2,152 crore meant for Tamil Nadu’s Samagra Shiksha scheme, citing the state’s refusal to implement NEP. Tamil Nadu has historically opposed the three-language formula, considering it a step toward promoting Hindi, while the central government argues that the policy is intended to help students access job opportunities in different regions.