Language debate: DMK MPs made Dharmendra Pradhan take back his words, says Stalin

Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin on Tuesday hit back at Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan for his remarks against the state and continued his attack on the National Education Policy (NEP). He termed Pradhan's remark "rude" and accused the BJP-led Centre of "blackmailing" the state.

"Yesterday, Dharmendra Pradhan said that Tamils are uncivilised without controlling his tongue. But after his speech, in half an hour, our Tamil Nadu MPs made him take back his words. I appreciate them for their war speech," Stalin said.

A day earlier, during a heated debate in the Lok Sabha on the three-language policy, Pradhan had said DMK MPs were "undemocratic and uncivilised". His remarks were later expunged from the House records after the BJP leader apologised. However, his remarks triggered a row in the Lok Sabha, leading to adjournment of the House for 30 minutes. DMK MPs protested against his comments outside the Parliament building. In a post on X on Monday, Stalin lashed out at the education minister who he claimed thought of himself "as a king".


On Tuesday, the CM continued to flag his concerns about the potential impact that the NEP could have on the state's education system. "In the name of NEP, they impose policies with the intention to destroy education in Tamil Nadu fully," he said. Stalin also alleged that the Centre would release Rs 2,000 crore of education funds to Tamil Nadu only if the state agreed to the triple language policy, which includes Hindi and Sanskrit. "We will not accept the National Education Policy. I repeat, not only Rs 2000 crore, even if you give Rs 1,00,000 crore, we will not accept this hazardous NEP scheme," he said.