Tamil Nadu CM Stalin escalates ‘Hindi imposition’ row, claims language push erased 25 native tongues

Stalin’s criticism of the central government intensified on Thursday as he went on to assert that the forced spread of the language had led to the extinction of 25 native North Indian languages over the past century.

“The push for a ‘monolithic Hindi identity’ is what destroys ancient languages. Uttar Pradesh and Bihar were never ‘Hindi heartlands’… their real languages are now relics of the past,” Stalin said, reported NDTV.

In a post on X, Stalin also condemned the Centre for allegedly undermining regional languages as a means to erode cultural identity, countering the government’s claim that Tamil political leaders were distorting facts to create an election narrative ahead of 2026.

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader reiterated his party’s opposition to what he termed the ‘imposition’ of Hindi.

He accused the Centre of contradicting its own assertion that students nationwide could study any language, pointing out that Tamil was not widely offered as a subject outside the Andaman Islands.

Stalin further alleged that most states prioritised Sanskrit under the new National Education Policy’s (NEP) three-language formula, which mandates students learn their mother tongue, English, and a third language of their choice.

“There are no Tamil language teachers in Kendriya Vidyalayas… The Union Education Minister said teachers would be appointed only if at least 15 students opt for Tamil in a school,” Stalin claimed.

“But Sanskrit is prioritised under the three-language formula in most states, whereas Tamil is protected by the Dravidian movement.”

He also alleged that in Rajasthan, Sanskrit teachers had replaced those teaching Urdu.

"Ask Prime Minister Narendra Modi how many signboards in South Indian languages were put up at the Maha Kumbh or Tamil Sangamam in Varanasi," he remarked.

“Hindi is not the mother tongue of Uttar Pradesh… UP lost Bhojpuri, Bundelkhandi (Bundeli). Uttarakhand lost Kumaoni. Native languages have vanished from Rajasthan, Haryana, Bihar, and Chhattisgarh,” Stalin stated.

His sharp critique underscores the long-standing friction between Tamil Nadu and the Centre over the three-language formula in the NEP.

Tamil Nadu, historically opposed to Hindi imposition, has adhered to a two-language policy since 1967, following violent anti-Hindi protests that led to the Congress losing power in the state.

The latest dispute erupted after Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan warned that Tamil Nadu could lose Rs 2,400 crore in education funds if it refused to fully implement the NEP.

Both Stalin and his son, Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, hit back, accusing the Centre of “blackmail” and vowing that Tamil Nadu was prepared for another ‘language war.’

In response, Pradhan told NDTV that the Tamil Nadu government was pushing a "false narrative," claiming the state had initially agreed to implement the NEP but later reversed its stance for political reasons.

“Nowhere in the NEP have we proposed imposing any particular language on any state… this is an unnecessary political controversy,” Pradhan stated.

Meanwhile, in a key political shift, actor Ranjana Natchiyaar resigned from the BJP after over eight years and joined actor Vijay’s newly launched Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam.

Vijay, in turn, criticised both the DMK and BJP, accusing them of staging the confrontation over the NEP and the three-language formula for political gain.