Stalin: Tamil Nadu Ready for Language War?

Aakhir Tak – In Shorts

Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin reiterated the state is “ready for another language war.”
This is amid renewed tensions over the Centre’s alleged Hindi imposition.
The DMK has consistently opposed the three-language policy.
K Annamalai hit back at Stalin’s remarks, accusing the DMK of hypocrisy.
Stalin announced an all-party meeting on March 5 to discuss delimitation.

Aakhir Tak – In Depth

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Stalin: Tamil Nadu Ready for Language War? Annamalai Fires Back

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin reiterated his strong stance against the “imposition of Hindi,” declaring that the state is “ready for another language war” if necessary. Stalin’s remarks come amid growing concerns over the Centre’s three-language policy. The language dispute in Tamil Nadu has heated up again.

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DMK’s Opposition

The MK Stalin-led Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has consistently opposed the three-language policy. The DMK insists that Tamil Nadu will continue with Tamil and English. They accuse the BJP-led NDA government of attempting to push Hindi on the state. The ruling party frequently cites the anti-Hindi agitations of 1965. During that time, the Dravidian movement successfully resisted the imposition of Hindi.

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Is the Centre Sowing Seeds?

When asked whether the Centre was “sowing the seeds for another language war” through its alleged attempts to impose Hindi, Stalin responded, “Yes, certainly. We are ready for it.” Language policy has been a long-standing point of contention. It is a conflict between the DMK-led Tamil Nadu government and the BJP-led Union Government.

Annamalai’s Rebuttal

Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai hit back at Stalin’s remarks. Annamalai accused the DMK of hypocrisy when it comes to language policy. In a post on X, Annamalai alleged that while Stalin claims not to oppose any language, government school students in Tamil Nadu are denied the opportunity to learn a third language, unlike their peers in CBSE and matriculation private schools.

Annamalai’s Question

Annamalai questioned, “Is Mr. Stalin implying that there is no restriction on learning a third language, but if you want to learn it, you should enrol your children in CBSE or matriculation schools run by DMK members?” He further claimed that the DMK had double standards. “One rule for the wealthy and another for the poor,” he said.

Swipe at DMK Cadres

Taking a swipe at DMK cadres who have been protesting against Hindi imposition, Annamalai remarked, “Your party members, who are roaming around with paint cans, seem to have forgotten to clarify the difference between Hindi and English in your statement.”

All-Party Meeting on Delimitation

Addressing reporters after a Cabinet meeting at the Secretariat, Stalin announced that an all-party meeting would be convened on March 5. They will discuss the delimitation issue. He emphasized that Tamil Nadu was under the “threat” of losing eight Lok Sabha seats. This loss would be due to its success in implementing family planning policies that led to population control.

Impact of Delimitation

Stalin also argued that delimitation would not only reduce Tamil Nadu’s representation. It would also affect its ability to voice concerns on crucial national issues such as the National Education Policy (NEP), NEET, and central fund allocations. “Tamil Nadu succeeded in population control through the family planning programme. Just because our population is less, we are now facing a situation where our Lok Sabha seats will be cut down. We stand to lose eight seats and as a result, we would be left with only 31 MPs instead of the current 39,” he explained. The language dispute continues in Tamil Nadu.

Aakhir Tak – Key Takeaways to Remember