New Delhi: In a fiery speech in the Rajya Sabha, Union Home Minister Amit Shah accused the DMK of exploiting the language issue to conceal corruption in Tamil Nadu. This controversy is part of a broader debate over allegations of Hindi imposition in the state, a charge vehemently denied by the Modi government. The Tamil Nadu government, led by the DMK, has resisted implementing the National Education Policy’s three-language formula, further escalating tensions.
Amit Shah’s remarks underscored his belief that the DMK is politicizing the language issue to divert attention from corruption in Tamil Nadu. The DMK has alleged that the Centre is imposing Hindi through the National Education Policy’s three-language formula, a claim Shah strongly refuted. He emphasized that Hindi is not in competition with other Indian languages but rather a friend to all, aiming to dispel fears of linguistic dominance.
The language row has also seen the Tamil Nadu government replace the Indian rupee symbol with the Tamil letter ‘Ru’, a move the BJP has dismissed as political drama. In an effort to promote linguistic inclusivity, Shah announced plans to correspond with citizens in their respective languages starting from December. Additionally, the NDA has promised that if they come to power in Tamil Nadu, they will provide medical and engineering education in Tamil, a move seen as a direct challenge to the current DMK government.
