Amid Hindi row, Shah asks TN Govt to teach medical, engineering in Tamil

In a major rebuttal to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin over the ongoing controversy surrounding alleged Hindi imposition by the Centre, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday urged the state government to introduce medical and engineering courses in Tamil.

Shah’s remarks came in response to Stalin’s jibe likening the Centre’s stance to “an LKG student lecturing a PhD holder”, a comment that has further escalated political tensions between Tamil Nadu and the Union Government.

Addressing the 56th Raising Day function of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) at Thakkolam, Tamil Nadu, Shah criticised Stalin and the DMK for not taking sufficient steps to promote Tamil in higher education. He asserted that the Central Government, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had made significant reforms to recruitment policies to accommodate regional languages.

Stalin urges CMs to join hands over delimitation

Chennai: Chief Minister MK Stalin on Friday wrote to his counterparts in Kerala, Karnataka, Telangana, West Bengal, Punjab, Odisha and party heads as well, inviting them to join hands with Tamil Nadu and be part of a Joint Action Committee for an “uncompromising fight”, over delimitation of Lok Sabha seats, which he termed an unfair exercise. PTI

“Until now, there was no provision for the mother tongue in Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) constable recruitment. Prime Minister Modi decided that our youth should be able to take the CAPF exam in all languages listed in the Eighth Schedule, including Tamil,” Shah said.

“I urge the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister to take immediate steps to introduce medical and engineering courses in Tamil,” he added, in a pointed remark directed at Stalin.

The Centre had approved the conduct of the CAPF examination in 13 regional languages, including Tamil, in 2023, days after Stalin protested the earlier decision to hold it only in Hindi and English.

Shah’s comments came hours after Stalin, in a lengthy social media post, accused the Centre of attempting to impose Hindi through the National Education Policy (NEP). He claimed the BJP’s push threatened Tamil Nadu’s linguistic identity.

“The tree may prefer calm, but the wind will not subside,” Stalin wrote, arguing that the controversy was triggered by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s remarks.

“It was Pradhan who provoked us into responding when we were simply doing our job. He forgot his place and dared to threaten an entire state to accept Hindi imposition. Now he faces the consequences of reviving a fight he can never win. Tamil Nadu will not be blackmailed into surrendering,” Stalin said, asserting that the state had already achieved the NEP’s 2030 goals.

“This is like an LKG student lecturing a PhD holder. Dravidam does not take dictation from Delhi; instead, it sets the course for the nation to follow,” he added.

Meanwhile, Shah praised Tamil Nadu’s contributions, saying, “Be it administrative reforms, spiritual achievements, education, or the unity and integrity of the nation — Tamil Nadu has reinforced Indian culture in every sphere.”