Subscribe

0

Politics

Yogi Adityanath vs MK Stalin over 3-language debate heats up

MK Stalin addressed comments made by Yogi Adityanath, who had accused the Tamil Nadu chief minister of trying to foster divisions of region and language out of fear for his electoral support

author-image
Surajit Dasgupta
New Update
yogi adityanath vs mk stalin

Photograph: (open)

Listen to this article
0.75x 1x 1.5x
00:00 / 00:00

On March 27, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin responded to remarks made by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath regarding the three-language policy debate, labeling his comments as an instance of "political black comedy." Stalin claimed that Tamil Nadu's demand for equitable treatment in language policy and delimitation is attracting significant national interest, which he believes is causing discomfort for the Bharatiya Janata Party.

“Tamil Nadu’s fair and firm voice on #TwoLanguagePolicy and #FairDelimitation is echoing nationwide—and the BJP is clearly rattled. Just watch their leaders’ interviews. 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,” Stalin wrote on X.

Stalin stated that Tamil Nadu did not resist any particular language; instead, it opposed the enforcement of a language, presenting the matter as a struggle for dignity and justice rather than a political issue related to elections. “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,” added Stalin in his post.

What statement of Yogi Adityanath was MK Stalin reacting to?

The president of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) addressed comments made by Yogi Adityanath, who, in an interview with ANI, had accused Stalin of trying to foster divisions related to region and language out of fear for his electoral support.

"The nation must remain united, without divisions arising from language or regional differences. We express our gratitude to Prime Minister Modi for hosting the third edition of the Kashi-Tamil Sangamam in Varanasi. Tamil, one of the oldest languages in India, boasts a history that rivals that of Sanskrit. Every Indian holds Tamil in high regard, as it embodies numerous aspects of our cultural heritage. Therefore, what reason do we have to harbor animosity towards Hindi?" the Uttar Pradesh chief minister had remarked.

Yogi Adityanath had characterised the DMK's position as "narrow politics", stating, "When they perceive a threat to their voter base, they resort to fostering divisions based on regional and linguistic differences. It is essential for the public to stay alert to these divisive strategies and to maintain the unity of the nation."

K Annamalai joins Yogi

In response to MK Stalin's post, K Annamalai, the president of the BJP's Tamil Nadu unit, criticised the chief minister, labeling him a "con artist pretending to be a guardian of our constitution."

“Thiru @mkstalin, you are a con artist masquerading as a protector of our constitution & our federal structure. Usually, con artists scam the rich, but DMK shows no disparity; they scam both the rich and the poor. The whole country now knows that the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu’s family owns private schools that teach three languages & more but opposes the same policy for the state's Government school students. They are calling you a hypocrite, Thiru@mkstalin,” Annamalai wrote on X.

The Tamil Nadu head of the BJP attacked MK Stalin, saying he thought local actions by the DMK reflected the whole state’s view.

“TN CM thinks that the orchestrated drama by his partymen in pockets here and there reflects the voice of entire TN. It is also unfortunate that you haven't realised that your attempts to divert people’s attention to insignificant matters have been exposed. Live in your blissful world of ignorance, Thiru@mkstalin. We will not disturb you,” the BJP leader added.

India's 3-language policy

India's three-language policy is an educational strategy aimed at promoting multilingualism, national unity, and cultural preservation. Introduced in 1968 and reaffirmed in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the policy requires students to learn three languages: their mother tongue or regional language, Hindi or another modern Indian language, and English.

The structure of the policy varies depending on the region. In Hindi-speaking states, students learn Hindi, English, and a modern Indian language, preferably one from the southern states. In non-Hindi-speaking states, students learn their regional language, Hindi, and English.

The goals of the three-language policy are to:

  • Promote national unity: By encouraging students to learn languages from different regions, the policy fosters mutual understanding and respect among India's varied linguistic communities.
  • Preserve cultural heritage: The focus on native and regional languages ensures that India's rich linguistic heritage is maintained and passed down to future generations.
  • Enhance cognitive skills: Learning multiple languages has been shown to improve cognitive skills, including memory, creativity, and problem-solving abilities.
  • Prepare students for a globalised world: By incorporating English or other foreign languages, the policy prepares students to compete and collaborate in a globalised economy.

However, the policy has faced challenges, including regional opposition, inadequate resources, and the overemphasis on English ⁴. Despite these challenges, the three-language policy remains an important part of India's educational framework, aiming to promote multilingualism, national unity, and cultural preservation.

uttar pradesh Tamil Nadu DMK BJP