The Three-Language Policy has once again emerged as a flashpoint in Tamil Nadu’s political discourse, sparking a sharp exchange between the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the run-up to the April 23 Assembly elections.
Earlier, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president M.K. Stalin launched a strong attack on the Centre, accusing it of attempting to push Hindi under the pretext of education reforms. Speaking at an election rally, he threw an open challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, asking whether they would openly declare the implementation of the policy in Tamil Nadu during their campaign visits.
“I issue an open challenge—do you have the courage to declare that you will implement the Three-Language Policy in Tamil Nadu?” Stalin said, presenting the issue as one tied to linguistic identity and federal rights.
He further alleged that the Centre is subtly expanding the use of Hindi in non-Hindi-speaking states through modifications in the CBSE curriculum. Reaffirming Tamil Nadu’s long-standing resistance to any form of language imposition, Stalin asserted that the state would oppose such moves under all circumstances.
The Chief Minister also accused the Centre of withholding Rs 2,200 crore under the Samagra Shiksha scheme, claiming the funds were delayed because the state refused to adopt the language policy. “This is not a grant but money that belongs to the people of Tamil Nadu, collected through taxes. It cannot be used as a tool of coercion,” he said.
Stalin also targeted the opposition All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), accusing it of weakening the state during its decade in power. He questioned AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami’s silence, asking whether he had the courage to challenge the Centre on the issue.
In response, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan rejected Stalin’s allegations, accusing him of politicizing the matter to divert attention from governance issues. He defended the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, describing it as a framework that promotes linguistic freedom rather than imposition.
“The NEP prioritizes education in the mother tongue, enabling students to excel in their own language,” Pradhan said, adding that multilingualism should be seen as an advantage. “Learning multiple languages strengthens, rather than weakens, regional languages like Tamil,” he asserted.
The latest confrontation has revived a deeply sensitive issue in Tamil Nadu, where opposition to Hindi imposition has strong historical roots. With elections approaching, the debate is expected to intensify, influencing political narratives and voter sentiment across the state.
Political analysts point out that the policy is often viewed as an encroachment on state autonomy, given that education falls under the Concurrent List. They note that linking central funding such as allocations under the Samagra Shiksha scheme to compliance with the three-language formula is perceived as coercive by state governments, particularly in Tamil Nadu.
Experts also highlight that successive governments in the state, led by both the DMK and AIADMK, have adhered to a two-language formula (Tamil and English) since 1968, considering the three-language policy a threat to Tamil identity and cultural pride.
