DMK wants Tamil as official language in Central govt offices; AIADMK terms it 'egoistic statement'

By Supriya KrishnamurthyFirst Published Jun 6, 2019, 2:18 PM IST
Highlights

The Centre’s draft on the three-language formula was met with strong opposition in the state of Tamil Nadu. However, now the DMK has risen with a demand of making Tamil an official language in Central government offices. The AIADMK has stated that this is Stalin parroting the words and beliefs of MGR and J Jayalalithaa.

Chennai: Tamil Nadu strongly opposed the Centre’s draft of the National Education Policy (NEP) that suggested a three-language formula, making Hindi mandatory. Now Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) chief MK Stalin has demanded that Tamil must be made an official language in all Central government offices.

The AIADMK, however, claims that there’s nothing new in Stalin’s statements as he is merely repeating what party founder MG Ramachandran (MGR) and former chief minister Jayalalithaa said many years ago. 

Also read: Hindi imposition row: Make Tamil optional language in other states, tweets CM Palaniswami

"We should take a vow on this day to make Tamil an official language in Central government offices," Stalin told reporters in Chennai after paying homage to former IUML president Quaid-e-Millat on his 124th birth anniversary.  The DMK would continue to extend support to this cause, he added.

Spokesperson of AIADMK, C Ponnaiyan told MyNation, “These are things that have already been expressed by MGR, Amma and even Anna. They had
said that all languages mentioned in the constitution should be made official.” 

Ponnaiyan further added that these statements of Stalin’s are egoistic and nothing new.  On Tuesday, the DMK proposed that the two-language formula devised by Dravidian icon C N Annadurai should be implemented across the country.

Also read: Genesis of language problem: Indira Gandhi's one vengeful act

The proposal came a day after the Centre dropped the contentious provision of compulsory teaching of Hindi in non-Hindi speaking states.

Revising the draft education policy, the Centre had, on Monday, dropped the contentious provision of compulsory teaching of Hindi in non-Hindi
speaking states after the three-language proposal sparked outrage, mainly in Tamil Nadu.

Also read: National Education Policy: BJP exposes Stalin’s hypocrisy after DMK chief threatens ‘massive agitation’

The DMK and other parties in Tamil Nadu had strongly opposed the three-language formula in the draft National Education Policy alleging that it
was tantamount to thrusting Hindi language on the non-Hindi speaking states.

In Tamil Nadu, a two-language formula of Tamil and English is being followed since 1968 after the DMK stormed to power in 1967 under the
leadership of Dravidian stalwart and party founder CN Annadurai.

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