New Delhi: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has accused Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan of “blackmail” for saying that Tamil Nadu will not receive funds under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyaan till it accepts the National Education Policy (NEP) and the three-language formula.
“The state is seeking funds from the centre which is its rightful due and if the central minister speaks arrogantly, as if the state claimed his personal wealth, then Delhi may have to see the real trait of the Tamil people,” Stalin posted on X on Feb 16, tagging a video of Pradhan speaking, reported The New Indian Express.
Interestingly, Pradhan’s statement was criticised by all major parties in Tamil Nadu who cut across political divide and seemed united on the issue.
“The centre saying it will only release funds if Tamil Nadu accepts the three-language system, it is not correct. Our request to the centre is, do not look at the rulers but focus on the people. TN is a pioneer in education. Our youth must continue to be educated,” said AIADMK General Secretary and Tamil Nadu Leader of Opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami.
Other parties such as the NTK also condemned Pradhan’s statement.
“The NEP makes Hindi mandatory. We will learn Hindi if we want to, but the centre should not force it on us. India will be one country only if there are many languages. It is unacceptable that the centre refuses funds only because TN does not accept the NEP,” said NTK chief Seeman.
