North-South Divide Widening: Stalin Rejects ₹2000 Cr NEP Funds Over Language Row!

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has reignited the North-South language debate, warning DMK cadres against the imposition of Hindi in the state. In a strongly worded letter, Stalin stated that Hindi is merely a mask, while Sanskrit is the real hidden agenda behind language imposition. He also claimed that over 25 North Indian native languages have been lost due to what he calls the hegemony of Hindi-Sanskrit. The Tamil Nadu government continues to oppose the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, particularly its three-language formula, refusing to accept central education funds worth ₹2000 crore tied to its implementation. Stalin reiterated that no amount of funding would make his government compromise on Tamil identity and culture. This controversy follows Stalin’s recent call for an all-party meeting to discuss delimitation concerns, which he argues could reduce Tamil Nadu’s representation in Parliament. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has assured that delimitation will be based on proportional representation and will not impact the state’s seat share. However, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah and BRS leader K.T. Rama Rao have also raised concerns, further fueling the North-South political divide. With Tamil Nadu’s defiance on NEP, delimitation, and language policies, the standoff between the DMK government and the BJP-led Centre continues to escalate, making language and regional identity a key political flashpoint ahead of the upcoming elections.