Language Politics Ignites Tensions: DMK and Congress Spar Over Rahul Gandhi’s Student Outreach Program

Chennai: The political landscape in Tamil Nadu has witnessed a further deterioration of ties between former allies Congress and the DMK. Following their split after the recent assembly elections, the two parties are now engaged in a bitter war of words, with language identity serving as the latest battleground.

The primary source of contention is the branding of Rahul Gandhi’s recent student outreach initiative, titled “Chhatron Ki Goonj.” The DMK has publicly slammed the Congress leadership for choosing a Hindi name for the event, accusing the national party of exhibiting the same “Hindi imposition” tendencies that the DMK frequently denounces in the BJP.

“No Difference Between Congress and BJP”

The criticism was spearheaded by DMK spokesperson A. Saravanan, who questioned the rationale behind selecting a north Indian language for a program being conducted in the South.

“Rahul Gandhi named the event ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ in Hindi. Didn’t anyone tell him that Hindi is unwelcome in Tamil Nadu? Why couldn’t it be named in English or Tamil?” Saravanan remarked. He further escalated the rhetoric by asserting that if the Congress persists in adopting the same linguistic approach as the BJP, there is little to distinguish the two parties in the eyes of the Tamil electorate.

The DMK has long positioned itself as the guardian of Tamil identity, often leading protests against what it perceives as the encroachment of Hindi in southern administrative and cultural spheres. By drawing parallels between the Congress and the BJP, the DMK is clearly aiming to isolate the Congress from its core regional sentiment.

Congress Hits Back: “Absurd Arguments”

The Congress, however, has dismissed the accusations as baseless and politically motivated. Party leader Mohan Kumaramangalam hit back at the DMK, suggesting that the party’s leadership was behaving like a “jilted lover” in the wake of their broken alliance.

“The DMK’s comment is absurd. The Congress conducted a student program that is national in scope. Rahul Gandhi spoke in English, and his words were translated into Tamil for the benefit of the attendees,” Kumaramangalam stated.

The Congress leader also sought to highlight the hypocrisy of the recent criticism by pointing to the inauguration of the Bharat Jodo Yatra. He reminded observers that when Chief Minister M.K. Stalin flagged off the rally in Kanniyakumari, there was no mention of any linguistic barriers or sensitivities regarding the national party’s messaging.

A Growing Rift

The linguistic dispute is merely the latest symptom of a rapidly fraying relationship. Since the termination of their electoral alliance, the DMK has distanced itself from the INDIA bloc, notably refusing to occupy seats near the Congress during parliamentary proceedings.

The distance between the two parties has become increasingly visible on the national stage. During the recent Monsoon Session, the DMK notably opted out of the joint Opposition walkout regarding the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill. Furthermore, the party has largely remained absent from Congress-led protests, including those centered on discrepancies in voter lists.

As the DMK continues to sharpen its criticism, the divide between these two former partners suggests that the political landscape in Tamil Nadu is undergoing a significant and volatile realignment.

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