New Delhi:The National Education Policy (NEP) has once again ignited controversy, with multiple opposition parties including the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), and Congress accusing the BJP-led central government of undermining regional languages.
Amid growing protests, AAP MP Malvinder Singh Kang stated that while there is no objection to Hindi or English, the government must take concrete steps to safeguard regional languages. Speaking to reporters, he emphasized, “India’s diversity is its strength. If the NEP does not protect local languages, there will be opposition. The Centre must ensure that regional languages flourish.”
DMK’s Strong Opposition to Three-Language Formula
Earlier in the day, DMK MPs, led by Kanimozhi, staged a protest in Parliament against the NEP. The party has been a vocal critic of the three-language formula, which it believes is an attempt to impose Hindi on Tamil Nadu.
The DMK and Tamil Nadu government have consistently opposed Hindi imposition, arguing that it threatens the linguistic and cultural identity of the state. The party’s protest comes amid growing tensions between Tamil Nadu and the Union government over education policies.
Congress Slams Centre for ‘Saffronising’ Education
Congress MP K Suresh also lashed out at the Centre, accusing it of pushing the NEP without consulting state governments or academic experts. He alleged that the policy was part of a larger plan to “saffronise” India’s education system.
“Education policy changes must involve all stakeholders. The Centre has unilaterally imposed the NEP, ignoring state concerns. Tamil Nadu has always opposed the three-language policy, yet the Centre enforced it without consent,” Suresh remarked.
Dharmendra Pradhan vs. DMK: War of Words Escalates
The debate over NEP took a heated turn on Monday when Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan called the Tamil Nadu government “dishonest” and the people of the state “uncivilised”. His remarks led to widespread outrage, with Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin accusing Pradhan of arrogance and disrespecting the people of the state.
In a strongly worded post, Stalin demanded disciplinary action against Pradhan, stating, “He speaks like an arrogant king. His disrespect towards Tamil Nadu must not go unpunished.”
Pradhan, however, defended his remarks, accusing the DMK of hypocrisy and playing politics with education. He claimed that the Tamil Nadu government had initially agreed to implement the PM Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) scheme but later backtracked for political reasons.
“DMK is dishonest. They are ruining Tamil Nadu’s future by creating unnecessary language barriers. Their goal is politics, not education,” Pradhan stated.
Growing Divide Over NEP
The NEP has sparked deep divisions between the Centre and non-BJP-ruled states. While the BJP insists that the policy aims to modernize education, opposition parties argue that it prioritizes Hindi and Sanskrit over regional languages, potentially marginalizing non-Hindi-speaking states.
With Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal, and other opposition-ruled states strongly opposing the policy, the battle over NEP is far from over, setting the stage for further confrontations between the Centre and regional parties.
The post NEP Sparks Political Storm as AAP, DMK, and Congress Demand Protection for Regional Languages appeared first on Global Governance News- Asia's First Bilingual News portal for Global News and Updates.
