Remove Hindi from Union Government Offices: Tamil Nadu CM M.K. Stalin
NEW DELHI: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin criticized the BJP on Wednesday, urging them to take substantive steps to promote Tamil instead of engaging in symbolic gestures like installing Sengol. He called on the central government to declare Tamil an official language, stop imposing Hindi, and prioritize Tamil Nadu’s development.
Posting on social media platform X, Stalin questioned the BJP-led central government’s commitment to Tamil culture despite its claims. “If the assertion that our Hon’ble PM has tremendous love for Tamil has to be believed, why does it never find expression through action?” he wrote.
Stalin emphasized that real progress should take precedence over symbolic actions. “Rather than placing Sengol in Parliament, remove Hindi from Union Government offices in Tamil Nadu. Instead of empty praises, recognize Tamil as an official language alongside Hindi and allocate more funds for Tamil than for an extinct language like Sanskrit,” he stated.
He also criticized efforts to promote Sanskrit and Hindi in the state, saying, “Stop the desperate attempts to saffronize Thiruvalluvar and declare his timeless classic, the Thirukkural, as India’s National Book.”
Stalin further argued that merely quoting Thirukkural in the Union Budget was insufficient and urged the central government to take tangible measures. “Honor Tamil by sanctioning special schemes, ensuring a prompt disaster relief fund, and introducing new railway projects for Tamil Nadu,” he said.
Expressing displeasure over the use of Sanskrit in government projects in Tamil Nadu, Stalin added, “Stop wasting taxpayer money on the pointless ‘Hindi Pakhwadas’ in Tamil Nadu. End the absurdity of imposing Sanskrit names like Antyodaya, Tejas, and Vande Bharat on Tamil Nadu’s trains. Instead, revert to Tamil names such as Chemmozhi, Muthunagar, Vaigai, Malaikottai, and Thirukkural Express.”
Concluding his statement, Stalin asserted that true support for Tamil should be demonstrated through actions, not mere words. “Deeds prove love for Tamil, not deception,” he said.
Meanwhile, BJP Tamil Nadu President K. Annamalai responded to Stalin’s remarks, questioning his efforts to promote Tamil beyond the state’s borders. Posting on X, he wrote, “What was your contribution to spreading our Tamil language beyond Tamil Nadu while in power at the state and central levels? Did anyone obstruct the DMK from doing it?”
Annamalai also pointed out that the Tamil Development Centre program was launched by the previous AIADMK government and questioned Stalin’s role in continuing it. “What steps have you taken to implement the Tamil Development Centre program started by the former AIADMK regime?”
He further accused Stalin of restricting Tamil’s growth. “The issue is not your demands; you have always wanted Tamil to remain confined within the borders of our state,” Annamalai claimed.
Additionally, he compared Stalin’s efforts with those of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, arguing that Modi had done more to promote Tamil language and culture beyond Tamil Nadu. “Have you at least made half the effort that our Honorable PM Thiru @narendramodi avl has taken to spread the richness of Tamil language and culture beyond Tamil Nadu?” he asked.