Fiery Face-Off Over NEP : Dharmendra Pradhan Slams DMK Stand ; Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin Hits Back With Control Your Tongue Warning

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Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan slammed the Tamil Nadu government for its stand on three-language policy under the National Education Policy (NEP), accusing it of ‘ruining the future of the students’ in the state for politics, drawing a sharp retort from Chief Minister M K Stalin, who asked him to ‘control his tongue’.

During his reply in Parliament on the Central funds for the PM Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) scheme, Pradhan also called the Stalin government ‘dishonest’, evoking protests from the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam MPs, who raised slogans and disrupted proceedings of the House, resulting in its adjournment.

Heated exchanges also took place outside Parliament between the BJP and opposition parties, including the Congress.

“They are dishonest and ruining the future of the students of Tamil Nadu…They are misleading the people…They are doing politics,” Pradhan said in a hard-hitting attack against the Stalin government amidst its stiff opposition to the alleged imposition of Hindi in the state under the NEP, claiming that Tamil Nadu will not tolerate ‘Hindi colonialism’ replacing British colonialism.

Shortly after Pradhan’s comments in Parliament, Stalin took to social media to launch a scathing attack against the Union minister, who he accused of speaking with ‘arrogance as if he was a king’ and asked him to ‘control his tongue’.

“You are deceiving Tamil Nadu by withholding its rightful funds, yet you call Tamil Nadu MPs uncivilised? You are insulting the people of Tamil Nadu. Does the Hon’ble Prime Minister, Thiru. Narendra Modi accepts this?” he said.

DMK Lok Sabha MP Kanimozhi on X wrote , I strongly condemn Union Education Minister @dpradhanbjp for his disgraceful remarks calling Tamil Nadu and its people uncivilized. On behalf of the DMK and 8 crore Tamilians, I demand an immediate apology!

His words have deeply hurt and pained the people of Tamil Nadu. What right does he have to insult Tamil Nadu, while happily taking its tax revenue, workforce, and contributions to the nation? The BJP government has no problem reaping benefits from Tamil Nadu, yet it repeatedly disrespects its people. We will not tolerate this!