'No one is imposing Hindi': Annamalai hits out at DMK, launches BJP’s NEP campaign in Tamil Nadu

K. Annamalai

Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai on Monday reaffirmed that the National Education Policy (NEP) does not impose Hindi on students, as he announced the launch of an "aggressive" signature campaign starting March 1 to push for the policy’s implementation in the state.

Criticizing the MK Stalin-led government, Annamalai accused the DMK of creating "two classes of students" by opposing NEP 2020, which mandates a three-language formula, including English, Hindi, and the regional language.

Speaking to CNN-News18, Annamalai said, “We will launch an aggressive signature campaign from March 1. The Stalin government is creating divisions among students. No one is imposing Hindi, but there should be an option. We are proud of the Tamil language, but that does not mean we don’t respect other languages."

Citing examples from other states, he pointed out that Tamil is offered as an optional language in Uttar Pradesh, Chandigarh, and Madhya Pradesh at the secondary level. “I am saddened when Chidambaram does not know the basic facts,” he remarked, taking a dig at senior Congress leader P Chidambaram.

He further accused several DMK leaders of opposing the NEP without understanding its provisions. Annamalai also claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had held a special session on the NEP before finalizing the policy.

Annamalai said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had held a special session on NEP before the report was made public.

“Tamil Nadu education minister is not having basic common sense," he told CNN News18.

When asked about his personal stance on language education, Annamalai said he would prefer his children to learn a Dravidian language as their third language and Sanskrit or Hindi as the fourth.

The DMK government has remained firm in its stance against NEP, alleging that it enforces "language imposition" on Tamil Nadu.