Uninstall Hindi from Union government offices in Tamil Nadu: Stalin to Modi

Penning yet another letter to DMK cadre, Stalin told them that there was a 'huge gap' between the actions and words of Prime Minister Narendra Modi vis-a-vis his 'love for Tamil language'.

Chennai: Continuing to rake up the language issue, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Wednesday sought to know why Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “love for Tamil doesn’t get reflected in action" by pointing to the "huge gap" in funds allotted for Tamil and a “dead language” like Sanskrit.

In the eighth part of his series of letters to the DMK cadre as the party projects the 2026 assembly elections as a battle between Tamil Nadu and Centre, Stalin said the Prime Minister should first “uninstall” Hindi from the offices of the Union government in Tamil Nadu and announce Tamil as an official language “on par with Hindi".

Stalin has been accusing the Union government of trying to impose Hindi on Tamil Nadu by “pressuring” it to implement the three-language formula as part of the National Education Policy 2020 and has warned that the DMK and the State were prepared to face yet another battle for language.

The fresh confrontation between the State and Centre began after Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said states like Tamil Nadu won’t get funds under Samagra Shiksha if they don’t subscribe to NEP.

The DMK president also tore into the Union government for “imposing Hindi” on the people of Tamil Nadu by even giving Sanskrit-Hindi names to trains running in the state.

“Stop wasting taxpayers’ money on the nonsense of 'Hindi Pakhwadas' in Tamil Nadu. End the absurdity of imposing Sanskrit names like Antyodaya, Tejas, and Vande Bharat on Tamil Nadu’s trains. Revert to the practice of naming them in Tamil, like Chemmozhi, Muthunagar, Vaigai, and Malaikottai, Thirukkural Express,” Stalin said.

Seeking to know why "Modi’s love for Tamil never reflects in action", the Chief Minister said rather than installing Sengol in Parliament, Hindi should be uninstalled from Union government offices in Tamil Nadu. “Instead of hollow praise, make Tamil an official language on par with Hindi and allot more funds for Tamil than a dead language like Sanskrit,” he added.

Stalin said the BJP-led Union government allotted Rs 167 crore to the Central Institute of Classical Tamil, while it allotted Rs 2,435 crore for Sanskrit Universities between 2014-2023.

He also asked the BJP to stop "desperate attempts" to saffronise saint-poet Thiruvalluvar and declare his timeless classic, Thirukkural, as India’s 'National Book', while taking a dig at Modi saying quoting the couplets during the Union Budget will not cut it.

“Love for Tamil is proven through deeds, not deception,” Stalin added.

In response to Stalin’s statement, Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai said Sengol in Parliament stands as a testament in the Parliament to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s commitment to spreading the Tamil language and culture.

He also asked why the DMK didn’t raise a hue and cry when Rs 675.36 crore was allotted to Sanskrit and only Rs 75.05 crore to Tamil during the UPA-I and UPA-II governments in which the party was an integral part.

“Your hatred has blinded you from seeing a locomotive named after our great Rani Velu Nachiyaar. You had a problem with Vande Mataram back then and have a problem with Vande Bharat today. Doesn't come as a surprise to us,” he said.