MDMK MP Durai Vaiko Stirs Up Language Debate, Says Northern States Are ‘40 Years Behind’ Tamil Nadu

A Tamil Nadu MP has reignited the language debate in Parliament, asserting that the northern states are "40 years behind" the southern state and that Tamil Nadu excels in various fields due to its two-language policy, reported NDTV.

Durai Vaiko, an MP from the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) and the son of party chief Vaiko, recalled a meeting with Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Photo Credit: https://x.com/duraivaikooffl

During the meeting, Tamil Nadu's Education Minister, Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, urged the Union Minister to release funds under the PM Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) scheme.

In response, Pradhan reportedly linked the funding to Tamil Nadu's adoption of the National Education Policy (NEP), which advocates a three-language system.

"Our education minister said Tamil Nadu has excelled in the PM SHRI scheme, so we are supposed to get funds. Why are you tying it up with NEP? He (Pradhan) said, 'Tamil Nadu is 40 years behind, and you people should wake up. Why are you not letting students learn Hindi?'" Vaiko recounted.

Vaiko stated that he countered the claim by telling the minister, "Tamil Nadu is not 40 years behind. Compared to northern states, we are 40 years ahead."

He also reiterated that political parties in Tamil Nadu, with the exception of the BJP, have consistently opposed the three-language policy.

"Since the NEP insists on a three-language formula, we have suggested certain changes. If they bring in the changes, we don't mind signing it," he said.

Representing Tiruchirapalli in the Lok Sabha, Vaiko clarified that Tamil Nadu parties are not against Hindi.

"Hindi Pracharak Sabha has been functioning in Chennai for 60-70 years, but we don't want the imposition of Hindi," he stated.

He further championed English as a crucial tool for communication, especially as India strives to become the world's third-largest economy.

"For people of South (India), English has been a means of progress. Tamilians dominate worldwide, across sectors, be it IT or medical science. They are dominating because of English proficiency, and how did we get there? Because of a two-language policy," he explained.

The ongoing dispute between Tamil Nadu and the central government over the NEP and its three-language requirement continues to fuel debate.

Meanwhile, Union Education Minister Pradhan accused the MK Stalin-led Tamil Nadu government of fostering a "fear psychosis" regarding the three-language formula while failing to promote Tamil within the state.

He further argued that while students in Tamil Nadu are increasingly choosing English, the DMK government continues to question the necessity of a three-language approach.

"Nobody is imposing anything on anyone. This is a democratic society, and the order of the time is that you have to be multilingual," Pradhan remarked.

He also claimed, "Opposition to NEP 2020 has nothing to do with the preservation of Tamil pride, language, and culture but everything to do with gaining political dividends."