In a social media post today, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin strongly criticised the Union government’s push to impose Hindi, accusing it of undermining Tamil Nadu's linguistic identity. The comments come after the Centre's approval in 2023 to conduct the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) examination in 13 regional languages, including Tamil, following protests by Stalin regarding the earlier decision to conduct the exam only in Hindi and English.
Stalin accused the Union government of attempting to impose Hindi through the National Education Policy (NEP) and labeled the BJP’s efforts as a direct threat to Tamil Nadu’s cultural identity.
"The tree may prefer calm, but the wind will not subside," Stalin said, arguing that the controversy had been provoked by remarks made by the Union Education Minister. "It was the Union Education Minister who provoked us to write this series of letters when we were simply doing our job. He forgot his place and dared to threaten an entire state to accept Hindi Imposition, and now he faces the consequences of reviving a fight he can never win. Tamil Nadu will not be blackmailed into surrendering."
Stalin further emphasised that Tamil Nadu had already achieved the goals outlined in the NEP for 2030. "This is like an LKG student lecturing a PhD holder. Dravidam does not take dictations from Delhi. Instead, it sets the course for the nation to follow," he said.
The NEP, which recommends a three-language formula, has faced strong opposition in Tamil Nadu, where the ruling DMK insists that the existing two-language system—Tamil and English—is sufficient. Despite this, the BJP has continued to advocate for the formula, claiming it would benefit people traveling to other states.
Stalin also criticised the BJP’s signature campaign supporting the NEP and the three-language formula, calling it a "circus" in Tamil Nadu. "Now the BJP's circus-like signature campaign for the three-language formula has become a laughing stock in Tamil Nadu. I challenge them to make this their core agenda in the 2026 Assembly elections and let it be a referendum on Hindi imposition," Stalin wrote.
He further pointed out the historical resistance Tamil Nadu has shown to efforts to impose Hindi, citing that every attempt had either resulted in defeat for its proponents or their eventual alignment with the DMK. "History is clear. Those who tried to impose Hindi on Tamil Nadu have either been defeated or later changed their stance and aligned with DMK. Tamil Nadu will not tolerate Hindi colonialism replacing British colonialism," Stalin declared.
Stalin also accused the Union government of excessively using Hindi in the names of schemes, awards, and government institutions, arguing that it was suffocating non-Hindi speakers. "From the names of schemes to awards to Union government institutions, Hindi has been imposed to a nauseating extent, suffocating non-Hindi speakers, who are the majority in India," he said.
"Men may come, men may go. But even long after the dominance of Hindi is shattered in India, history will remember that it was DMK that stood as the vanguard."
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