Tamil Nadu: DMK opposes three-language policy, calls it 'religious imposition'

DMK spokesperson TKS Elangovan expressed serious concerns over the proposed threelanguage policys effects on Tamil Nadu education and charged that the Central government was using it to impose religious ideas on the education system ANI reportedSpeaking to ANI Elangovan said that the state government holds the Constitutional right to legislate on educational mattersAs per the Constitution we state can legislate on education as it is in the Concurrent List Elangovan saidSecondly the Department of Education should explain what is new in this Education Policy he added criticising the apparent redundancy of the policy ANI reportedElangovan highlighted that the government should focus on improving educational standards in BJPruled states where he believes the policy could first be tested for its effectivenessFirst the policy should be implemented in BJPruled states and improve their standards The purpose of this policy is to impose religious ideas on the education system which we will never allow and we will never allow Hindi he saidEarlier DMK MP A Raja on Saturday had strongly reacted to PM Modis remarks on language accusing him of attempting to create divisions in the country ANI reportedHe also raised questions on PMs stance and asserted that BJP is fostering divisionThe Prime Minister said in an event that some people are trying to separate the country in the name of language If you doubt that we will separate the country in the name of language should we not also doubt that you are trying to divide the country in the name of religion Raja said ANI reportedHe further warned that there will be a strong resistance if the PM continues to speak on the language issueIf you still speak on language our Deputy Chief Minister will say Go Back Modi We MMK MPs will say Shut up Modi in Parliament ANI reportedSaying that his party is not advocating separatism Raja said We are not separatists but it is you who force usUnion Minister Dharmendra Pradhan earlier had strongly criticised Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalins letter to PM Modi accusing him of raising imaginary concerns driven by political motivations ANI reportedWhile addressing a press conference Pradhan emphasised that the National Education Policy NEP 2020 is not imposing any language on stateOne point I want to reemphasise is that the NEP is not recommending the imposition of any language on the respective students of a state That means in no way the NEP is recommending imposition of Hindi in Tamil Nadu Dharmendra Pradhan said ANI reportedTamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin had written a letter to PM Modi regarding the release of Samagra Shiksha funds for the stateIn the letter Stalin expressed concerns regarding Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhans earlier statement where he mentioned that Tamil Nadus Samagra Shiksha funds will not be released until the state implements the three language policy mentioned in NEP 2020With inputs from ANU