Chennai, Feb 25 (UNI) Asserting that the Tamil Nadu government was ready for
yet another language war, which the BJP-led Government at the Centre is trying
to impose by insisting on three-language policy, Chief Minister M K Stalin on
Tuesday said an all party meeting will be held on March five to discuss on the
delimitation of constituencies.
Talking to reporters at the State Secretariat after a meeting of the State Cabinet,
he said Tamil Nadu, which has been effectively implementing the family planning
programme, will be losing eight of the total 39 Parliamentary seats in the proposed
delimitation exercise to be undertaken by the Centre based on population.
"This means that TN will stand to lose eight seats, reducing the total number of
constituencies to 31", he said.
Observing that the State need more MPs to fight against NEET and the three-language
policy as envisaged under the NEP-2020, which TN was opposing, Mr Stalin said an
party meeting will be held on March five to discuss the delimitation issue and to protect
the State's rights on 3-language formula.
Appealing to all political parties to shed their differences and speak in one voice to
uphold the rights of the State, Mr Stalin said invitations would be given to 40 political
parties registered with the Election Commission for the All-party meeting.
Accusing the Centre of trying to reduce the number of Lok Sabha seats in Tamil Nadu
in the name of delimitation exercise for effectively taking population control measures
by implementing the family programme, the Chief Minister said the delimitation process
has been hanging like a sword of damocle in Southern States.
'If the number of LS seats are increased in Northern and other states, Tamil Nadu will
stand to lose its rights", he said, and exuded confidence that the Opposition parties
too will extend its support to the government to safeguard the rights of the State.
Stating that Tamil Nadu will not accept the NEP and the 3-language formula which the
Centre had been insisting if the State has to received its due share of funds to the
tune of Rs 2,152 crore under SSA for the education sector, Mr Stalin said the Centre
was trying to impose another language war on TN and the State was ready to face
it.
Tamil Nadu will never accept the 3-language formula and stick to its long followed
2-language policy, he said.
UNI GV 1255