Chennai, Mar 25 (UNI) Firmly reiterating his stand that he would never accept the

three-language policy as envisaged under the NEP and deviate from the existing

and long-followed two-language formula in Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister M K Stalin

on Tuesday informed the State Assembly that an announcement on protecting the

Tamil language and uplifting Tamils is on the anvil.

Responding to a Special Mention on the issue raised by leaders of various political

parties in the Assembly, the Chief Minister declared that he would not surrender the

rights of the State just for the sake of funds due from the Centre and that he would

never accept the three language policy, aimed at imposing Hindi in the state.

The Centre has refused to release Rs 2,152 crore due funds to the State under the

SSA for the school education sector as TN refused to accept the NEP that euologised

implementing the three-language policy in the State.

Recalling his oft-repeated remarks that he would not accept the three-language policy

even if the Centre released Rs 10,000 crore to Tamil Nadu, Mr. Stalin said it was not a

matter of money, but about protecting Tamil language, Tamil people, students and the

younger generation.

“We are not bonded labourers to pledge the Tamil pride because the Centre refused

to release funds", he said, adding, the Dravidian model DMK government has the

wherewithal to overcome these obstacles as it always believed that social justice and

protection of Tamils are its two eyes.

Asserting that he was determined in his stand that ensuring State Autonomy and

upholding the rights of TN alone would protect the Tamil language and uplift the

Tamils, Mr Stalin declared in the House that he would soon come out with an

announcement in this regard.

Observing that the State was compelled to fight to protect federal principles and

ensure State's autonomy, Mr Stalin said "we will never accept the three-language

policy, which the BJP-led Government at the Centre was trying in impose undr NEP.

"There is no need to have any doubt about the State government's stand on this",

he told Opposition AIADMK Deputy Leader in the Assembly R B Udhayakumar, who

raised the issue, referring to a letter written by the former Chief Secretary to the Union

government on the PM SHRI scheme.

Pointing out that Tamil and English are the two languages of Tamil Nadu and that they

are our guiding principle, Mr Stalin there was no change in this and he would never

deviate from this stand, reiterating his commitment to sticking to the 2-language policy.

Once again reiterating that the DMK was not against any language, Mr. Stalin recalled

a resolution moved by DMK Founder and later CM C.N. Annadurai in the Assembly

way back in January 1968 vehemently rejecting Hindi imposition by the Centre.

Pointing out that Tamils have made a mark across the world and scaled new heights

under the two-language policy followed in the State, a stand which was also accepted

by several states, Mr Stalin said he would not allow language that would destroy Tamils.

While reiterating that two languages--Tamil and English--will suffice and that if any other

language was imposed it would endanger the mother tongue, the Chief Minister said

the state government was not preventing anyone from teaching any language.

“Imposition of Hindi is not an imposition of a language. We are firmly committed in our

stand that Hindi imposition will lead to destruction of our culture and we have to put a

full stop to the Centre's proposed attempts to destroy other languages in the name of

3-language policy", he added.

Apparently referring to AIADMK General Secretary and Leader of the Opposition Edappadi

K. Palaniswami, visit to Delhi today, Mr Stalin suggested that he should “take up the issue

with the leaders (apparent reference to BJP leaders) whom he would be meeting there to

protect the state's rights in continuing with the 2-language policy.

UNI GV 1650