‘Imaginary concerns; NEP not imposing Hindi in Tamil Nadu’: Dharmendra Pradhan

NEW DELHI: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Friday strongly criticized Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin’s letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of raising “imaginary concerns” driven by political motivations.

Addressing a press conference, Pradhan emphasized that the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 is not imposing any language on a state. “One point I want to re-emphasize is that the NEP is not recommending imposition of any language on the respective students of a state. That means, in no way the NEP is recommending imposition of Hindi in Tamil Nadu”, Dharmendra Pradhan asserted.

“Through social media, I came to know that Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin has written a letter to PM Narendra Modi. He has not written the letter in good spirit. He has mentioned few imaginary concerns through that letter and his letter is full of political motivation and looking into his own political convenience, he has written that letter”, Pradhan said.

He emphasized that the primary essence of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 is to bring global standards to education, and simultaneously, it has to be rooted in India. “It has to promote linguistic and cultural heritage from states like Tamil Nadu. The Government of India is conducting all the entrance examinations in all major 13 languages and one among them is Tamil also”, he said.

The Union Education Minister stressed further that Prime Minister Modi’s government is committed to glorifying Tamil Nadu’s language and heritage. “PM Modi announced India’s first Thiruvallur cultural centre in Singapore to promote Tamil thoughts globally. This is our commitment. Since 1968, successive governments have implemented a language formula in the education sector. By not implementing NEP 2020, we are depriving students, teachers and parents of the global opportunity. Education should not be politicized. Even many non-BJP states are implementing the NEP. They are taking all the cooperation from the Centre”, Dharmendra Pradhan said.

“Tamil Nadu is losing Rs 5,000 crore by not implementing PM Shri schools which is focused on scientific education, teaching methods in Tamil language because NEP is being emphasized to teaching in mother tongue up to Class 8”, he added.

Pradhan also appealed to Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin that the Centre is committed to developing all parts of the country. “I appeal to the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu that the Government of India is committed to developing all parts of the country, and specifically, the Prime Minister is very proud of Tamil literature and language”, he said.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin had written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding the release of ‘Samagra Shiksha’ funds for the state. The letter mentioned Stalin’s concerns regarding Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s statement where he mentioned that Tamil Nadu’s ‘Samagra Shiksha’ funds will not be released until the state implements the ‘three language’ policy mentioned in NEP 2020.

The incumbent Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)-led government has constantly attacked the Central government regarding the imposition of the Hindi language in the state and has stated that the Centre isn’t releasing funds to implement the NEP (New Education Policy). (ANI)