'No change in two-language policy, TVK govt to follow long-held state policies: Tamil Nadu minister

His comments came as SFI office-bearers met CM C Joseph Vijay, who is believed to have told them that his government will never compromise on the two-language formula of Tamil and English.

Chennai: Tamil Nadu School Education Minister A Rajmohan on Monday reiterated that there was no change in the two-language policy of Tamil and English and the new TVK government will continue to follow the state’s long-held policies.

“Two-language policy is not just a policy of the Tamil Nadu government, it is also one of the fundamental principles of the TVK. We are clear that the state will continue to follow the two-language policy and there is no change in that,” Rajmohan told reporters after a review meeting of the department.

Asked whether the government will accept the PM-SHRI scheme which insists on a three-language formula, Rajmohan said the state was clear that people should learn Tamil because it is their mother tongue and English for outside communication. “We will discuss thread-bare about other issues and schemes and take a decision,” the minister said.

His comments came as Students Federation of India (SFI) office-bearers met Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, who is believed to have told them that his government will never compromise on the two-language formula of Tamil and English.

The remarks are significant since the previous DMK government fought a running battle with the Union government over denial of funds by the latter for not implementing the three-language formula.

The development also comes close on the heels of the Union Government sending a reminder to the Tamil Nadu government on joining the PM-SHRI scheme.

Tamil Nadu has been following a two-language formula since 1968 after the then Chief Minister C N Annadurai rejected the three-language formula, saying government schools in the state will only teach Tamil and English.

The state government has also said no to implementing the National Education Policy, saying it paves the way for teaching Hindi through the back door.