Chennai Students Protest Against NEP's Trilingual Policy, Accuse Centre of Hindi Imposition

Chennai – Students from Chennai’s Presidency College took to the streets on Wednesday to protest against the Union government’s proposed trilingual policy, which they argue is a covert attempt to impose Hindi in Tamil Nadu. The demonstration, held in front of the college gate, reflects growing tensions between the state and the Centre over the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

The controversy deepened after Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan linked the release of education funds under the Samagra Shiksha scheme to Tamil Nadu’s adoption of the NEP, including its three-language formula. This condition has drawn sharp criticism from the Tamil Nadu government, which has consistently opposed the policy.

Tamil Nadu’s School Education Minister, Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, condemned Pradhan’s remarks during a protest organized by the INDIA bloc on Tuesday. He reiterated the state’s firm stance, stating, “We reject the National Education Policy (NEP), the PM-SHRI scheme, and Hindi imposition. The Union government is trying to pressure states into accepting NEP, but Tamil Nadu will not succumb to such coercion.”

The ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has been vocal in its opposition to the NEP, viewing it as a disguised effort to impose Hindi under the guise of promoting multilingual education. The party has accused the Centre of pursuing an anti-Tamil and anti-Dravidian agenda.

Union Minister Pradhan, however, dismissed these allegations, arguing that Tamil Nadu was politicizing the issue. He questioned why the state was resisting the NEP when most other states had accepted it. Pradhan also claimed that Tamil Nadu had initially agreed to the Centre’s conditions but later backtracked. Speaking at the Kashi Tamil Sangamam event in Varanasi, he urged Tamil Nadu to “adhere to constitutional norms and implement NEP in letter and spirit.”

DMK legislator Ezhilan countered Pradhan’s claims, pointing out that under the Official Language (Use for Official Purposes of the Union) Rules, 1976, Tamil Nadu is exempt from Hindi imposition. He emphasized that while individuals are free to learn Hindi voluntarily, it should not be made mandatory.

On Monday, the DMK issued a statement condemning Pradhan’s remarks and accusing the Centre of using education funds as leverage to intimidate Tamil Nadu. The statement also criticized Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, alleging bias in fund allocations and neglect of Tamil Nadu’s projects. Additionally, the DMK accused the Centre of interfering in state affairs through the Governor’s office and attempting to undermine Tamil Nadu’s education system via the University Grants Commission (UGC).

The AIADMK, another major political party in Tamil Nadu, has also opposed the three-language formula, reaffirming its commitment to the state’s long-standing two-language policy of Tamil and English. AIADMK General Secretary and former Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) reiterated the party’s opposition to Hindi imposition. Similarly, expelled AIADMK leader and former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam (OPS) urged the Centre to withdraw its insistence on the trilingual policy.

With political parties uniting against the NEP’s language provisions and student protests gaining momentum, Tamil Nadu’s resistance to the policy remains a significant point of contention between the state and the Centre. The DMK has indicated that the protest is just the beginning of a larger movement against the NEP’s implementation in Tamil Nadu.