Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath recently criticized Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin over the ongoing language row, particularly regarding the imposition of Hindi and the three-language policy under the National Education Policy (NEP). Yogi questioned, “हिंदी से नफ़रत क्यों?” (“Why hate Hindi?”), emphasizing that language should unite rather than divide people. He argued that every Indian respects Tamil, one of the oldest languages with a history as rich as Sanskrit, and asked why there should be animosity toward Hindi. Yogi accused Stalin of engaging in “narrow politics” by allegedly creating divisions based on region and language to protect his vote bank, urging the public to reject such divisive tactics.
In response, MK Stalin sharply rebuked Yogi, calling his remarks “political black comedy at its darkest.” Stalin clarified that Tamil Nadu does not oppose any language, including Hindi, but resists its forced imposition and the chauvinism associated with it. He asserted that the state’s stance on maintaining its two-language policy (Tamil and English) and its demand for fair delimitation reflect a fight for dignity and justice, not division. Stalin further suggested that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is rattled by Tamil Nadu’s firm position, as evidenced by the responses of its leaders.
The exchange highlights a broader tension between the central government’s push for Hindi within the NEP’s three-language framework and Tamil Nadu’s historical resistance to what it perceives as linguistic imposition, a sentiment rooted in the state’s Dravidian identity and past movements against Hindi dominance.
By BHARAT GLOBAL TIME
