DMK MPs Wear Black Dress, Protest In Parliament Over Pradhan's Remarks On NEP, Three-Language Formula

The MPs from the DMK on Tuesday held a protest outside Parliament over Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's remarks on the National Education Policy (NEP) and the three-language issue.

The leaders wore Tamil Nadu wore black dress to register their protest against the Centre, accusing the BJP government of imposing Hindi on the southern states.

What Leaders Say?

Speaking outside the Parliament, DMK MP Kanimozhi said, "The Union Govt is withholding the money that has to be given to Tamil Nadu, saying that we have to sign the three-language policy and the NEP. They are ruining the future of the children of Tamil Nadu. They have no right to withhold the funds which have to come to the children of Tamil Nadu. Yesterday, he (Dharmendra Pradhan) responded in a very abusive way, saying that we are dishonest and that the people of Tamil Nadu are uncivilised. This is not the language we expect him to be speaking. This is totally undemocratic. We expect an apology."

Congress MP K Suresh criticised the Centre on the NEP claiming that the BJP government is pushing the policy without consulting the state governments and academicians. "Education policy change is a very serious issue. Without consulting state governments and academicians, they (central govt) brought in a new education policy. They want to saffronise the entire education system. Tamil Nadu has always been against the three-language policy, but without their consent, the union govt took the decision. Our party members from Tamil Nadu also support them DMK," ANI quoted him as saying.

DMK MP Tiruchi Siva says, " ...It is misleading (statement of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan), we never said so, Tamil Nadu Education Minister already clarified it...we are wearing black today and going to have a demonstration condemning the observations made by him (Dharmendra Pradhan)...it is unethical and unparliamentary. We are also against three-language policy...nobody can impose it on us..."

Congress leader Karti Chidambaram said that the two-language policy serves Tamil Nadu very well. "Tamil preserves our identity and is our mother tongue, English is our link language to the world of commerce and science...we don't need a 3rd compulsory language...Minister should have apologised, he withdrew it but he should have apologised too..." he added.

What Pradhan Said?

On Monday, Pradhan slammed the DMK of being "dishonest" as he alleged that the Stalin's party of agreeing to implement the PM Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) scheme in the state but changing its plans, later. "They (DMK) are dishonest. They are not committed to the students of Tamil Nadu. They are ruining the future of Tamil Nadu students. Their only job is to raise language barriers. They are doing politics. They are undemocratic and uncivilised," Pradhan said.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin slammed Pradhan for his comments and accused him of "insulting the people" of Tamil Nadu.