TN rejects 3-language policy proposed in NEP

AIADMK says two-language policy will remain in force

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami’s expression of pain and anguish on Monday over the threelanguage formula in the new National Education Policy, and asserting that the state would continue with C.N. Annadurais’ two-language policy, did not satisfy a belligerent Opposition that wanted a total rejection of the NEP as it had more flaws.

After holding a discussion with ministers and officials concerned with the education departments and educationalists, the Chief Minister came out with a statement that categorically said that the government was firm in following the two-language system as per the aspirations of the people and political parties, including the AIADMK.

Urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take into consideration the sentiments of the people and reconsider the NEP and allow the states to implement their own policies in education, Palaniswami said people had expressed their views on the issue through various agitations at different points of time.

Recalling the various protests against Hindi imposition in the state, Palaniswami said that former chief ministers M.G. Ramachandran and J. Jayaalalithaa were firm on it. He said he had written to the Prime Minister in June 2019 against the proposal in the NEP for introducing a three-language system in schools and that his government would defend Tamil people and Tamil language if there was any threat to them.

While the founder of PMK, an electoral ally of the AIADMK, Dr S. Ramadoss welcomed the stand taken by the Chief Minister, the Opposition camp, led by DMK president M.K. Stalin, urged the CM to call a Cabinet meeting and pass a resolution against the implementation of the NEP.

In a letter to the CM, written by leaders of 11 political parties belonging to the Secular Liberal Alliance, the other flaws in the NEP were pointed out. In higher education the autonomy of the universities and the rights of the states were sought to be taken away, the letter said.

The other charges included imposing Vedic culture in education, ignoring social justice but being silent on reservations, not concerned about women’s education, attaching the autonomous Classical Tamil Research Institute to a university and saffronising school education.

Kamal Haasan, the founder of the Makkal Needhi Maiyam, in a tweet, welcomed the Chief Minister’s stand but said that some other structures suggested in the NEP like National Assessment Centre, PARAKH, National Testing Agency and National Curriculum Framework would rob the states of their right and hence should be rejected.

BJP’s state media president A.N.S. Prasad disputed Stalin’s claim that the two-language policy was followed in the state.

TAMIL NADU will never allow the Centre's three-language policy. The state will continue with it's dual language policy (of Tamil and English). The three-language formula in the NEP is painful and saddening.

EDAPPADI PALANISWAMI, TN Chief Minister