MK Stalin Defends Tamil Nadu’s Stance Against Language Imposition
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has strongly criticized Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s remarks on the three-language policy and delimitation issue, calling them “political black comedy at its darkest.”
Stalin stated that Tamil Nadu does not oppose any language but stands firmly against the “imposition and chauvinism” associated with the BJP’s policies. He further claimed that the BJP is “rattled” by Tamil Nadu’s stance on these issues.
Stalin’s comments came after Yogi Adityanath, in an interview with ANI, accused the DMK leader of attempting to create divisions based on language and region to protect his political base.
Background on the Three-Language Policy and Delimitation Issue
The DMK government has been a vocal opponent of the three-language formula outlined in the Centre’s National Education Policy (NEP).
Tamil Nadu has long followed a two-language policy, promoting Tamil and English in schools, and opposing the introduction of Hindi as a mandatory subject. The DMK has maintained that this policy reflects Tamil Nadu’s cultural and linguistic identity.
The other major point of contention is the proposed delimitation exercise, expected to take place after 2026. Stalin has argued that states in southern India, including Tamil Nadu, have implemented family planning effectively over the years.
Therefore, using population as a basis for redrawing parliamentary constituencies would reduce the political representation of southern states despite their economic and social contributions to the nation.
Stalin warned that this approach would unfairly penalize states that have managed to control population growth and contribute significantly to the country’s GDP.
Yogi Adityanath’s Criticism
In his interview with ANI, Yogi Adityanath questioned why the DMK opposes Hindi and argued that learning multiple languages strengthens national unity.
“The country should not be divided on the basis of language or region. We are grateful to Prime Minister Modi ji for organizing the third generation of the Kashi-Tamil Sangamam in Varanasi. Tamil is one of the oldest languages in India, and its history is as ancient as Sanskrit. Every Indian has respect and reverence for Tamil because many elements of Indian heritage are still alive in the language. So, why should we hate Hindi?”
Adityanath further accused Stalin of engaging in “narrow politics” by creating regional and linguistic divides to protect his political standing.
“When these people feel their vote bank is at risk, they try to create divisions based on region and language. The people of this country should always be alert to such divisive politics and stand firm for the unity of the country,” he added.
Stalin’s Response on Social Media
Stalin swiftly responded to Yogi Adityanath’s remarks on social media. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Stalin wrote:
“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. 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.”
Stalin reiterated that Tamil Nadu’s opposition is not against any specific language but against the imposition of Hindi under the guise of national unity. He framed the debate as a fight for fairness and justice rather than a political maneuver.
Annamalai’s Attack on Stalin
BJP’s Tamil Nadu unit president, K Annamalai, also joined the attack on Stalin. In a social media post, Annamalai accused Stalin of hypocrisy.
He alleged that Stalin’s family-owned private schools teach multiple languages, including Hindi, while government schools in Tamil Nadu are restricted to the two-language policy.
“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.
Annamalai also accused Stalin of mistaking party support as reflective of the entire state’s sentiment.
“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,” he added.
Delimitation Concerns and DMK’s Stand
On March 22, the first Joint Action Committee (JAC), led by Stalin, urged the central government to avoid penalizing states that have successfully implemented population control measures.
The committee passed a resolution expressing concern over the “lack of transparency and clarity” regarding the delimitation exercise.
Stalin has accused the Union government of using delimitation as a tool to undermine the political influence of southern states. He has maintained that this issue is not about politics but about protecting the rights and dignity of Tamil Nadu and other southern states.
