Language row: Will Centre endorse Fadnavis' position on Marathi, asks Stalin

Chennai: After Maharashtra government’s claims that only Marathi is compulsory in the state, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Monday asked whether the Union government will issue a clear directive to all states affirming that the NEP does not require the compulsory teaching of a third language.

“This is a clear manifestation of his trepidation over the widespread public condemnation against imposition of Hindi on non-Hindi speaking states,” Stalin said in response to Maharashtra government response.

He also wanted Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to clarify if the Union government officially endorse Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ position that no language other than Marathi is compulsory in Maharashtra as the third language under National Education Policy.

“If so, will the Union government issue a clear directive to all states affirming that the NEP does not require the compulsory teaching of a third language? Will the Union Government release the Rs. 2,152 crore it unjustly withheld for Tamil Nadu on the premise that the state must subscribe to the teaching of a mandatory third language?” he asked.