Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan denied allegations made by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin that the National Education Policy (NEP) imposes Hindi, asserting that no language is being forced upon students. Speaking in Jhargram, West Bengal, on April 5, Pradhan said the NEP permits students to learn their mother tongue and also choose an additional Indian language.
“MK Stalin is doing politics. The National Education Policy nowhere says that only Hindi will be taught. Whichever state’s resident one is, the mother tongue of that state will be taught there. In addition, they have to take one more Indian language; this is up to the students. They just want to create fear. No language is being imposed on anyone in any scheme,” Pradhan told ANI.
The comments came after Stalin sharply criticised Pradhan’s statement on April 4, calling it “deeply irresponsible” and accusing the Union Government of “weaponising” education funding to compel states to adopt the three-language policy. Stalin claimed that the Centre withheld Rs 2,200 crore under the Samagra Shiksha Scheme to pressure Tamil Nadu into implementing the policy.
Stalin argued that linking key education funds to compliance undermines the choice of non-Hindi-speaking states. He highlighted Tamil Nadu’s dedication to a two-language policy, which he said has yielded strong results in science, technology, and medicine education. He emphasised that opposition to Hindi imposition is about preserving India’s linguistic diversity and the respect for the Tamil language.
The Chief Minister challenged the Union Minister to promote the compulsory three-language policy while seeking votes in Tamil Nadu. He also urged AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami to clarify his stance on the issue.
“I also call upon AIADMK General Secretary Thiru. Palaniswami and his NDA allies to clearly state their position. Do they support this aggressively pushed three-language policy of the BJP?” Stalin asked. “It is time for Thiru Palaniswami to make his stand unequivocally clear, whether he stands with the people of Tamil Nadu or with his Delhi bosses who seek to impose Hindi under the guise of policy,” he stated.
Responding on April 5, Pradhan accused Stalin and the DMK government of using the “Hindi imposition” narrative as a “facade” to cover up administrative shortcomings and deny students equal educational opportunities. Pradhan also appealed to the people of West Bengal to vote decisively against corruption, nepotism, and what he described as an oppressive system ahead of the state elections.
“This time, the people of Bengal are contesting the election. This time, the people are going to cast a decisive vote against corruption, nepotism, and the oppressive system… A fear-free, women-oppression-free Bengal is needed. Here, the government is not for the people, but for its own interests,” he said.
He added, “Are Suvendu Adhikari, Samik Bhattacharya, and Dilip Ghosh outsiders? The people of Bengal have made up their minds this time; we will get a full majority.”
West Bengal will hold Assembly elections in two phases on April 23 and April 29, with counting scheduled for May 4.
