AISF Stages Protest Against Ministry Over NEP 2020 Implementation in Tamil Nadu
The All India Students Federation (AISF), a left-affiliated student organization, staged a protest outside Shastri Bhawan on Tuesday against Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s recent statement that central education funds under the Samagra Shiksha scheme would not be released for Tamil Nadu unless the state fully implements the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The protest saw student activists voicing concerns over what they described as the Centre’s coercive tactics against non-BJP-ruled states.
The Ministry of Education has not yet issued a response to the protest.
AISF Accuses Centre of Coercion
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan recently stated that Tamil Nadu’s failure to implement NEP 2020 would result in the withholding of central education funds. He accused the DMK-led Tamil Nadu government of politicizing the policy and delaying its adoption. AISF responded with sharp criticism, claiming that NEP 2020 undermines regional autonomy, promotes privatization, increases educational inequality, and disregards Tamil Nadu’s linguistic and cultural heritage.
In an official statement, AISF alleged, “The Centre is blackmailing states into implementing NEP 2020 by withholding crucial education funds.”
Detention of Protesters
AISF National President Viraaj Devang emphasized that the demonstration outside the Ministry of Education was peaceful but resulted in the detention of several protesters by the Delhi Police. “We organized a peaceful protest, yet we were detained for simply opposing the Centre’s coercion of states into accepting NEP 2020,” said Devang.
AISF National General Secretary Dinesh Seerangaraj also condemned the Centre’s actions, accusing Pradhan of “threatening” Tamil Nadu by conditioning the release of Rs 2,000 crore in education funds on the state’s compliance with NEP 2020. He described the move as unconstitutional and a direct challenge to the autonomy of non-BJP-ruled states.
The detained protesters were reportedly taken to Bawana Police Station and released after some time.
Political Reactions
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has strongly condemned the Education Minister’s remarks, calling them an instance of “blackmail.” He reiterated that Tamil Nadu had refused to implement NEP 2020 due to its negative impact on the state’s education system. Earlier this month, Stalin accused the Centre of engaging in “open blackmail” by diverting Rs 2,152 crore meant for Tamil Nadu to other states after it refused to adopt NEP.
During the Kashi Tamil Sangamam event in Varanasi, Pradhan defended the Centre’s stance, arguing that Tamil Nadu had initially agreed to the policy’s terms but later reversed its position for political reasons. “They must adhere to constitutional norms and accept NEP in letter and spirit,” he remarked.
Conclusion
The AISF protest highlights the growing tensions between the Centre and Tamil Nadu over education policy. While the Union government insists that NEP 2020 is a transformative framework for the nation’s education system, Tamil Nadu’s government and student organizations continue to resist its implementation, citing concerns over centralization and privatization. With opposition leaders and student bodies raising their voices, the debate over NEP 2020’s impact on federalism and educational equity remains ongoing.
