As tensions rise between the Tamil Nadu government and the Centre over the alleged imposition of Hindi through the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the Congress, an ally of the ruling DMK, is taking a cautious approach. While the DMK has strongly opposed NEP and any Hindi imposition, even at the cost of losing power, the Congress has maintained that Hindi should be a choice, not a compulsion.
DMK’s Strong Opposition to NEP
The DMK has intensified its opposition to the NEP’s three-language formula, questioning whether the policy is applied uniformly across India. The party has reiterated its commitment to Tamil Nadu’s existing two-language system, emphasizing that it will not accept any policy that indirectly imposes Hindi.
Speaking to the media, Congress whip in the Lok Sabha, Manickam Tagore, accused the Centre of coercing Tamil Nadu into adopting NEP by linking it to central funding. “Our party respects all languages and we are against any form of language imposition. Hindi can be learned by choice but not by force,” said Tagore, highlighting Congress’s opposition to coercive policies.
Differences Within Congress on Language Policy
Despite Congress’s broader stance on language inclusivity, party leaders in Tamil Nadu have expressed support for the state’s two-language model. Congress MP Karti Chidambaram aligned with the DMK, stating that NEP’s three-language policy is a veiled attempt at imposing Hindi. “Tamil Nadu is well-served with a two-language curriculum. TN will resist,” he posted on social media.
Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram also criticized the Centre’s selective enforcement of the three-language policy, pointing out that Hindi-speaking states primarily follow a one-language system in government schools. He argued that imposing an additional language only on non-Hindi-speaking states creates an imbalance.
Congress’s National Stand on the Issue
While Congress leaders in Tamil Nadu oppose the NEP’s language formula, the party’s national leadership is treading carefully. Some leaders have stated that Congress cannot afford to take an openly antagonistic stance against Hindi, as it is a national party with diverse linguistic constituencies. A senior Congress leader emphasized that differences on specific policies would not strain the party’s alliance with the DMK.
With the Parliament session beginning on March 10, the NEP language policy is expected to be a key issue of debate. Congress has indicated that while it supports linguistic diversity, it will continue to oppose the imposition of any language on non-Hindi-speaking states.
