Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has strongly opposed the National Education Policy (NEP), declaring that his government will never implement it, even if the BJP-led central government offers Rs 10,000 crore as funding.
He claimed that NEP is designed to impose Hindi on Tamil Nadu and push the state backward by 2,000 years.
Speaking at an event organised by the Parents-Teachers Association, Stalin criticised NEP for allowing students to discontinue studies, equating it to discouraging education itself. "Permitting students to discontinue studies is akin to asking them not to study. NEP will drive students away from schools," Stalin said.
He reaffirmed Tamil Nadu’s opposition to the policy, not just due to its alleged Hindi imposition but also because of other fundamental flaws that he believes will harm students.
"We are not opposed to any language but will remain firm in opposing its imposition. The NEP is regressive and will drive students away from schools," he said.
Stalin further accused the central government of trying to deny financial aid to students from Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Backward Classes (BC) under the guise of educational reforms. He revealed that the Centre had offered ₹2,000 crore to Tamil Nadu to implement NEP.
"The Centre says Tamil Nadu will get ₹2,000 crore if the state implements the NEP. I want to make it clear that we will not agree to NEP even if the Centre offers ₹10,000 crore. I will not allow the NEP and commit the sin of pushing Tamil Nadu backward by 2,000 years," he declared.
Also read: Stalin slams Pradhan over NEP, calls it 'blackmail'
DMK accuses centre of ‘imposing religious ideas’
DMK spokesperson TKS Elangovan echoed Stalin’s sentiments, accusing the central government of using the NEP to "impose religious ideas on the education system."
"As per the Constitution, education is under the Concurrent List, meaning states have the right to legislate on it. The Union Education Department should first explain what is new in this policy," Elangovan said.
He further challenged the BJP to first implement NEP in states it governs and prove its effectiveness before forcing it on others.
"This policy is an attempt to impose religious ideas on education, which we will never allow. We will also never allow the imposition of Hindi," he added.
Meanwhile, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan dismissed Stalin’s objections, calling them "imaginary concerns." He insisted that NEP does not impose any language on students, including Hindi in Tamil Nadu.
"The NEP does not recommend the imposition of any language on students in any state. In no way is it forcing Hindi in Tamil Nadu," Pradhan clarified.
The debate over NEP continues to be a highly contentious issue in Tamil Nadu, with the DMK government standing firm against its implementation, while the BJP-led Centre defends it as a progressive educational reform.
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