“NEP 2020 is a Manifesto for Linguistic Liberation, Not Imposition”: Union Education Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan Slams Tamil Nadu CM’s Misleading Narrative

New Delhi | April 4, 2026: Union Minister for Education, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, issued a strongly worded rebuttal today to the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Thiru M.K. Stalin, over his recent remarks regarding the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The Minister categorized the "Hindi imposition" narrative as a "tired attempt to mask political failures" and reaffirmed the Union Government’s commitment to empowering the Tamil language.

Defending Tamil’s Sovereignty in Education Countering the claim that NEP 2020 promotes compulsory Hindi, Shri Pradhan emphasized that the policy is designed to be a "manifesto for linguistic liberation." He stated that the NEP prioritizes the mother tongue, ensuring every Tamil child can excel in their own glorious language while becoming a "multilingual global leader."

"Tamil is not weakened by the learning of additional languages; it is enriched when its speakers are multilingual and linguistically empowered," the Minister noted, adding that portraying multilingualism as a threat is misplaced.

Stalled Infrastructure and "Dishonest" Politics The Minister highlighted several key areas where the Tamil Nadu government’s resistance has directly impacted students:

• PM SHRI Schools: Shri Pradhan pointed out that the DMK government has stalled the establishment of PM SHRI schools in the state by refusing to sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), despite an earlier undertaking.
• Navodaya Vidyalayas: He criticized the state’s continued obstruction of Navodaya Vidyalayas, despite directions from the Supreme Court of India. He termed this a "direct disservice" to lakhs of underprivileged students who are being denied merit-based residential education.
• Resource Allocation: The Minister clarified that talk of a resource crunch is a "façade," noting that progress is being held back by administrative defiance rather than a lack of central funding or commitment to teacher training.

 Shri Pradhan reminded the leadership in Tamil Nadu that under Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Tamil has been celebrated as a national treasure through initiatives like the Kashi Tamil Sangamam. He accused the state government of depriving students of diverse opportunities for the sake of a "divisive vote bank narrative."

The Union Minister concluded by urging the Tamil Nadu government to stop using the "Hindi imposition" argument to hide administrative failures. He called on the state to join the national mission of empowering every Indian language and to uphold the constitutional spirit that safeguards India’s vast linguistic diversity.